REVIEW! Love Story.

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols.

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 local 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.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is going to be a weird review, because typically in a review you're supposed to point out the pros and cons of the story - what you liked and disliked.  But honestly I'm not sure I can pinpoint exactly what those qualities are for me, regarding Love Story.

I went into the story loving the concept of characters in college. HUGE plus.  Also, in a creative writing class, writing about one another? BIGGER plus! Awesome idea. And Erin's and Hunter's stories were actually enjoyable to read. They didn't feel like intrusions to the overall story.  And yet, sometimes I felt that they were lacking... or not present enough.  I didn't like that the narration would mention they'd written several more stories over the passing weeks, but as a reader I never got to read them.  Since they were such a key aspect beforehand, I figured they'd be prominent throughout.  This is not the case.

As for the characters, Erin and Hunter have that electric dynamic - hating but loving, flirty but zingy.  It's good and all, but at times it's also confusing.  I had a hard time deciphering what actions were "true" and which were not; going by Erin's narration, I just couldn't tell, and it seemed neither could she. This prevented me from ever forming an attachment to the idea of them as a couple.  I couldn't trust Hunter, so I wasn't invested in their relationship as much as I should/could have been. 

Another big big BIG component of the book is the background info.  There's a lot of it that comes into play.  But... it's all so fuzzy.  You never get the FULL stories.  Often I was like, Well what happened next?! But I never found out.  You're just given the same information over and over.  The problem is that their past is so vital to the present, so to not have all of the info makes it seem like an unsolved mystery.  This constantly nagged at me. I kept waiting for explanations and meetings that I knew had to happen, yet didn't.

Now for the biggest issue, and the reason why I couldn't rate this higher: THE ENDING. Is there even an ending? I'm not so sure. I got to the last page and literally freaked out, thinking my copy was missing an entire last chunk of the story. But no. Upon checking page counts and chapters and everything, I found that my copy is indeed correct.  Let me just say that I've never had a book elicit such a reaction from me; I've never been so surprised at such an abrupt ending.  The story comes to no conclusion!  Okay... it comes to a miniature closure/resolution/THING.  But it's not nearly satisfying enough to be considered an actual ending.

All I can say is read and see for yourself.  Really, it's a good, entertaining story. It just left me puzzled and frustrated.

REVIEW! Ditched.

DITCHED: A LOVE STORY by Robin Mellom.

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I know why Ditched was ditched. When it comes down to it all - the story, the purpose... it's all rather lacking. I went into Ditched thinking it'd be a cute, fun read.  And while it's a bit cute (the latter half of the story), it's not very fun.  The story has no feel-good emotions.  It's mostly a downer.  Justina being ditched at prom turns into one exhausted exaggeration after the next. 

As a character, Justina makes little sense. She's strong, she's weak, she's flirty, she's reserved, she's a slut, she's not a slut. See a pattern?  Ultimately, she adds up to one big contradiction.  The other characters get maybe a word to describe them.  Otherwise, they're just names.  I like a little more substance than this, even for a quick read.  Even a bit of background info would've been nice.

The plot is frustrating, to say the least. It drags and drags.  You know when you're watching a really bad horror movie and you end up shouting at the characters on screen, calling them out for their stupidity?  That's the reaction I had to the plot of Ditched.

Needless to say, it just wasn't for me. 

Highlight of the book?  I really liked that the progression of the story depended on the back stories of every stain on Justina's dress. It's a concept I've seen before, yet still neat and kept me wondering.

REVIEW! Getting Over Garrett Delaney.

GETTING OVER GARRETT DELANEY by Abby McDonald.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock- all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Sloooooooooooooooow. In a good way! Getting Over Garrett Delaney will definitely test your willpower to keep reading, but it's strangely worth it.  It's what I've been asking for: a book in which the romance takes a back seat and develops.  If you're looking to get away from love triangles and insta-love and get back to what's most relatable to real relationships, then this is the book for you.

The characters are nice in the way that they're not over the top in their actions.  Everything seems pretty plausible and that helped to make them seem more real.  My one gripe is the descriptions, which leave a little to be desired.  Everyone's always grinning or hugging or laughing. You'll understand when you read it.  I would have liked a little more variation.

I like that nothing happens in the way of romance - nothing overwhelming, I mean.  It's so nice to find a story that progresses, rather than throws the character right into a make out session.  Sadie is goofy and overly concerned and not at all preoccupied with the physical aspects of a relationship.  Instead, her story focuses on the dynamics of the inner workings of relationships, which, as a reader, I appreciated. Because not everyone is focused on that, 100% of the time.

Everything pans out really well, from the characters to the timing of their involvement, everything.  It was like I spent a few weeks of summer with Sadie and her gang myself.  And it was fun.

REVIEW! Saving June.

SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington

Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.

Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I had high hopes for Saving June, but it ultimately let me down.  The writing is swell, as well as the characters.  But here's the thing: they could've been anyone, and the story would've been the same.  The thing I just couldn't get past in this book is that every moment of it feels like one I've read before.  Nothing seems outright original, or exciting.  In other words, nothing captured my attention.

And I couldn't get past Harper, Laney and Jake's ages.  Throughout the entire story they seemed much more mature than their given ages: 16, 17 and 18.  And when it was made known that they were so young, the believability of the plot plummeted.  Everything suddenly seemed too convenient to make up for their youth.  This immediately distanced me from the characters and story.

Granted, the story has quite a bit of humor that presents itself at the randomest of times.  That definitely keeps it from being drop dead dull.  But other than that, every bit is just as predictable as you think it is.  There are no surprises.  Had there been an unforseen aspect, I think I'd consider the pacing spot-on, perfect.  But since it lacks any such thing, it moves a bit too slow for my liking.

In all honesty I think this one of those books that people will either be into, or not into.  In my opinion, there's a lot of "grey area" that readers either won't mind, or will.  In this case, I minded the grey areas.  Too-young characters (for the situations at hand) and too little setting it apart from other novels ultimately makes Saving June an unmemorable read for me.

REVIEW! Before I Fall.

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I wish this could be a one-word review. It'd say WOW.

This book really gets you thinking, in the best ways possible. How would you live your last day? Don't worry, Sam doesn't know either. She lets us, as readers, discover the answer with her. I think this is the aspect that I like most about Before I Fall. Nothing seems to just be told to us; you work through everything right along with Sam, not knowing if the outcomes will be good or bad or inbetween. And in this way, it's not like a book - it's like life. I really like that the feelings Sam's story evokes transcend just the story.

The book does drag. It has to, like a Groundhog Day scenario. But while I understand the necessity, it also bothers me. Sometimes I just wanted to get to the next part because scenes were too repetitive. The good news is the characters make up for the slow timing. At first, they're nothing special - just typical cliches. But Oliver takes them and puts a spin on the repetition that shows their development and their true selves.  It's a lovely unfolding of sorts.

If anything, read for the realness that is Sam's world. You may learn something, and be glad for it.

In a nutshell: Striking, beautiful, thoughtful.

REVIEW! Lola and the Boy Next Door.

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, 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 move back into the house next door.
 
When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - 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 rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Lola just didn't do it for me. Sure, I had very, very high expectations for it, after my book crush on Anna and the French Kiss (thanks to St. Clair). But high expectations aside, Lola and the Boy Next Door simply lacks the Stephanie Perkins magic I grew to love.

Lola herself is the biggest problem to me. Not only could I not relate to her in any way, I also wasn't fond of her choices. I prefer stronger characters, especially concerning girls. The lovesick puppy routine gets old really quickly for me. Plus, she just didn't add up to me - not in any aspect. It's okay if your boyfriend smokes pot, but it's a tragedy that your birth mother gets drunk? Sorry, but I don't get it. To me, Lola seemed to be many things, but none of these things added up to a whole, to an entire being. Her personality is lost on me, and her immaturity acted as a death sentence.

That being said, the remaining characters aren't any better. I actually dislike her fathers, despite loving the concept of two dads, since that's rarely ever seen in YA novels. One's bitter, the other's a pushover - that's all I know about them. However, I like that they are involved within the story. But Lola's best friend, Lindsey? She may as well not exist, because all I got from her is she's a little Nancy Drew obsessed. As for Cricket, well. I don't dislike him. I just feel like there's so much more that he could've been. A relentlessly happy, non-complex love interest gets to be boring after a while. Don't get me wrong - he's absolutely adorable and totally sweet. I just wish he hadn't been as lackluster as Lola. I so badly wanted one of them to shine.

The true stars in all of this, for me, were Anna and Etienne. They were hilarious and genuine and true to themselves as we saw them in Anna. Every time they appeared, I wished a little of their realness would rub off on Lola and Cricket.

I know my ramblings make Lola seem like a terrible book, but that's not at all the case. Lola is a good book - it's got its good writing, love interests, solid plot, etc. It just wasn't for me (for reasons stated above). I expected more depth, and it didn't deliver.

REVIEW! The Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.  
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
 
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My rating: 5 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Trust me when I say that this books sits on an entirely different level, separate from other YA novels.  Because it truly does.  The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is written so beautifully, it easily surpasses those like it. Really, the writing itself is what initially drew me in.  The descriptions are fantastical, and the thought behind them is so clear and vivid. I cannot express how impressed I am by the mere writing of this novel - while other YA writings come off almost childish, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone comes off as much more mature - not only in its writing, but also its development.

I think every single character is striking in one way or another.  Really.  I don't think I was disappointed by any.  And that's pretty hard to do for me. But I enjoyed all of them because they all had stories. Backgrounds. Personalities. Taylor made me want to know all of them, and there's a difference between me wanting to know more, and the author simply telling me more.

Truth be told, my only gripe is the ending. I realize it's meant to end the way it does, but I'm just not the biggest fan of its wrap-up.  Plus, cliffhangers are pretty annoying.

That aside, Taylor has gotten herself on my list of authors whose books I will always pick up. I'm really looking forward to the second book.

If you don't read this, you're missing out.

REVIEW! The Pledge.

THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom….

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I went out on a limb here, reading The Pledge. It's admittedly not in my genre of choice - contemporary. BUT. It was mostly everything I could've asked for.

Most notably - the awesome sense of plot and descriptions. Hellooooo, you two! Where have you been in my YA novels? So glad you've returned. That's basically the conversation I had going on in my head. Derting's world just packs this live punch that's great; it's gritty, urban, magical.  And the characters have distinct personalities! It's easy to form connections to them, which helps guide the story. Truth be told, some are cliche, and a bit predictable. But the more developed characters make up for their lacking.

There's some slow build-up, which leads to confusion about just what kind of world they're living in, and why, but everything is resolved in the end.  However, that's where things seem to get a bit screwy.  Characters suddenly do a 180 and show other sides of themselves, causing me to feel detached from them after finally feeling like I knew their purposes within the story. It's a bit offputting and annoying. The way everything - and everyone - ties together seems illogical at times, or presents Oh c'mon, really now? moments/reactions.

But trust me: The Pledge is an awesome thriller. The world is fleshed out, the descriptions spot-on, and the characters more or less come together seamlessly. It's a mingling of all things good. Read it!

REVIEW! Amy and Roger's Epic Detour.

AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson

Amy Curry is having a terrible year. Her mother has decided to move across the country and needs Amy to get their car from California to Connecticut. There’s just one small problem: Since her dad died this past spring, Amy hasn’t been able to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger, the nineteen-year-old son of an old family friend, who turns out to be unexpectedly cute . . . and dealing with some baggage of his own.

Meeting new people and coming to terms with her father’s death were not what Amy had planned on this trip. And traveling the Loneliest Road in America, seeing the Colorado mountains, crossing the Kansas plains, and visiting diners, dingy motels, and Graceland were definitely not on the itinerary. But as they drive, Amy finds that the people you least expected are the ones you may need the most — and that sometimes you have to get lost in order to find your way home.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Very, very, VERY slow. Almost agonizingly so.

Luckily the events make up for the pacing. This is one of the first road trip books I've read that actually, well, portrays a road trip. Sounds crazy, I know. But there are so many books out there about trips that don't do so much with the detailing of said trips. But Amy & Roger's definitely does. From eating out of the back of their car, to making up names, to driving on deserted roads, to coming upon a grand estate - you get it all. Even the trips to the mini-marts and gas stations. And I love that, because you actually feel as though you're on the trip with them. The sense of winging it and taking chances is refreshing and invigorating.

The interactions between Roger and Amy are very real, and not at all how you'd expect a road trip novel to go. The story is still predictable, but it's not unbelievable. It's not The Greatest Trip of All Time right from the start. That being said, the predictability doesn't really match up. The romance is ... sudden and, again, although predictable, seems insufficient. And not treated very well. It feels like it's thrown in purely because it's a road trip novel, and what's a road trip novel without newfound, budding romance between two unsuspecting strangers?

Nevertheless, Amy & Roger's is definitely a cute, uplifting read. The inclusion of mixes, receipts, pictures, etc. is very cool.

REVIEW! The Day Before.

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Lyrical? Check.
Emotional? Check.
Calming, beautiful and deep? Check, check and check.

*If you didn't already know, all of Schroeder's novels are written in verse. Don't be quick to knock 'em off as "stupid poetry." They're amazing, thought-provoking and raw. Refreshing, even. Read and you'll discover their loveliness.

As for The Day Before, it's a wonderful combination of family stress versus unknowing-the-future stress. In such few words you get this complete sense of Amber and her family; it's very touching. As the title suggests, the book takes place over the course of one day - "the day before," in particular. You're not kept in the dark as to what it's referencing; there's no guessing, no waiting, no cliffhangers. The story is straightforward - you simply tag along.

Cade is that quiet/shy/boyishly cute kind of guy. His interactions with Amber don't come off forced. Rather, they're genuine. My only gripe is the quick progression of the romance. I'm not okay with situations that make it seem as if the characters are falling in love after knowing one another for a few hours. This isn't to say that the romance doesn't work within the context of the story, because it does. It works. I'm all for Cade and Amber. It's just that, ultimately, it's not too believable.

The ending comes rather quickly, too. I was just getting into that lulling rhythm that Schroeder provides with her verse, when I realized the story was coming to an end. I like the premise of the story, and the characters, so much that I wish I'd gotten to spend more time with them.

Short and sweet: It's beautiful. Go read it. Then read all of her other books. They're great.

REVIEW! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.  

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong. 

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm just as confused as Mara. Or at least I was.

For the first half of the book, I sat there thinking, This is Fight Club. This is totally Fight Club. (For the record, I love Fight Club. And if you've read it - or seen the movie - you know what I'm talking about.) But Mara surprised me. More than once. In fact, there are surprises in nearly every chapter. It's true; Hodkin keeps you on your toes.

Mara is a strange character, both fierce and goofy. It works. I like that she's not pegged into one personality type. And her family is involved. They're not conveniently away on an all-expenses-paid family cruise. They're not severe workaholics that leave the kids to fend for themselves. They're present - both her parents and brothers. And they have significant roles! They help propel the story forward, rather than intrude and waste time.

Personally, I'm not a fan of Noah, the stereotypical bad boy who reads like a cliche. Plus, I don't fall for possessiveness. It's just creepy. As such, he falls majorly flat as the romantic interest. I just don't buy it. There's this lack of trust that causes me to guess if his intentions are true.

But then there's Jamie. Why, why, WHY couldn't there have been more Jamie?! I love that kid. I want him back. He's beyond quirky and steals every scene he's in.

Bottom line is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is fast-paced and keeps you alert. It's also a bit outrageous at times, and ends abruptly after such a long buildup, so be prepared for a major cliffhanger. Otherwise, enjoy the thrill!

REVIEW! Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance.

JENNA & JONAH'S FAUXMANCE by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers-known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still, it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on. . . . Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm a sucker for reality television shows, and while this isn't about a reality show, it reads like one. So I was all in and ready for the drama. Plus, I'm a huge fan of Franklin and Halpin's work (see: The Half-Life of Planets). Unfortunately, Jenna and Jonah isn't drama-rific. It's fluffy. And cute. And more fluffy.

Don't get me wrong: I wasn't expecting some deep, emotional tearjerker. But I did expect some semblance of a plot. Instead the pace reads incredibly fast and leaves no room for any buildup - which is a shame, because I am actually interested in both Charlie and Fielding; they're good, snarky characters that aren't able to develop. However, I could do without their romance, which appears without any cause or purpose.

The story's just whacky and unbelievable. It makes for a fun read when you need something light and quick.

REVIEW! Past Perfect.

PAST PERFECT by Leila Sales

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Stable, but iffy.

Past Perfect is the longer, drawn-out version of your favorite cutesy teen romance read. It's got the Romeo & Juliet knock-offs, complete with star-crossed lovers and feuding families. The aspect that's entirely different is that it takes place in a Colonial Village tourist attraction. The details of Chelsea's surroundings really help paint the picture; you get a clear sense of the area in which she reenacts. Another good thing? This doesn't take place during the school year. So no locker-slamming, bathroom-crying drama!

I love the concept of the War that happens between the feuding attractions, but I wish it'd gotten more attention. It starts off strong, then moves into the background, then comes to the forefront again. It ends up making Past Perfect a very slow-moving mishmash of feuding, getting over your ex, moving on to someone new, dealing with crazy parents, and fighting with friends. The story just doesn't quite pull it all off cohesively. It's as though each part is dealt with separately, with loose strings keeping them attached. The climax isn't even climactic; it's just there.

Also, there are a lot of characters, so unfortunately none of them - including Chelsea - get characterized much, if at all. Their personalities are very one-note.

Thankfully the writing kept me attached to the story.

REVIEW! The Duff.

THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have no idea really why this is titled The Duff, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend. I expected the story to revolve around that single term, to both develop and explore it, but it doesn't. It's simply mentioned and then repeated needlessly. That let me down a bit. I didn't want the term to be introduced, then cast aside by Bianca's friends (and a certain important someone) telling her she's truly attractive. My reaction went a little like this: Um.....Did I miss a chapter? Or two? The term is what drew me in, but I didn't get the great concept to match.

Aside from that, every action and word of dialogue is predictable. I knew exactly what was happening in terms of plot; there were no surprises or tension. The story just keeps moving, singing its same old tune. So even though some parts are cute, especially those including Wesley, the overall story falls flat.

I wish the characters were a bit more believable and less cliche. The typical high school plot and stereotypes makes it seem stale, like a story I've read ten thousand times before, just with new names thrown in.

The writing itself is all right - neither beautiful nor horrific. The descriptions are simple and there's a lot of repetition.

It's not a bad read, but it's not a great read. In relation to other similar YA titles, The Duff ends up being the Duff.

REVIEW! Anna and the French Kiss.

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.


As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My rating: 5 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Anna and the French Kiss? It's just going to be another cliche, right? WRONG! Despite the cutesy title and summary, Anna and the French Kiss has depth. Lots of depth - specifically the relationship/friendship kind. It's a whirlwind of wonderful.

The story's progression immediately caught me by surprise; it doesn't transpire in a short amount of time. Instead, it paces itself over roughly a year of time. Sounds crazy slow, but it isn't. It actually works like a big puzzle in which you can't wait to find the next piece to plug into place. It's this pacing that gives the plot sustenance. Without it, and in a much shorter timespan, the plot would come off cliche.

But the characters are supporting that long timeframe. Without them, the story would drag. The relations between Anna and her friends just work, to put it simply; their actions aren't forced or unflattering or awkward - although they are a tad predictable. They merely mesh together, and they're all imperfect. In fact, they seem real. What they say to one another is not unlike what you'd hear you or your friends saying (except maybe minus the French and British slang).

So essentially Anna and the French Kiss provides both good story and believability. And a charming love interest: Etienne St. Clair. (Warning: You won't be able to keep yourself from swooning just from seeing his name. He's that special.) What's best about him is that he's so unlike other male characters. He's not simply the Knight in Shining Armor or the Bad Boy or anything inbetween. He's a collaboration - really well-rounded.

My advice? Don't knock it for the romance-y premise. At all. Go read it!

REVIEW! The Summer I Turned Pretty.

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han

Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer — they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My rating: 3 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Belly might have felt the magic of summer, but I, unfortunately, did not. The Summer I Turned Pretty is rather plain and dressed down, which at first has the perfect making of a cute summer read. Quickly, though, it fizzles out - the magic, the summer, the fun... it all fizzles.

I was immediately caught off guard and detached from Belly, the main character, because of her young age. The story takes place during her sixteenth birthday, but is also told through memories from when she was as young as ten. In the context of the story, this didn't work for me. Her age + the romance = lackluster and Awkward (with a capital A).

None of it really made sense to me; I struggled to find its purpose. The issues between the parents, friends and siblings don't work cohesively.  While they come together in the end, they don't explain why other events are necessary. Simply put, I don't understand how we get from point A to point B.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a big question mark to me. It's cute and summery at times, but it doesn't do much in terms of plot or character.

REVIEW! Sisterhood Everlasting.

SISTERHOOD EVERLASTING by Ann Brashares

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Sisterhood Everlasting is a constant struggle. Even now I am still sorting through my feelings about it. 

Having read and followed all of the girls throughout the Traveling Pants series, I do have an attachment to them. How can I not? I followed them for four summers of their lives, and am now transported ten years into their future. There is a reader-story-character bond going on. 

That said, I think it's this bond that threw me for a loop with Sisterhood Everlasting. To a reader that's never encountered Bridget, Lena, Carmen or Tibby before, the story will just appear heartbreaking, depressing, sad. But to me, as someone that has followed them, it's utterly devastating; there is no relief from what these girls go through. But while I don't believe every story needs a happy ending, this just seemed very out of place to me. The mood in Sisterhood Everlasting is incredibly - surprisingly- painful. Sure, the Traveling Pants series showed their fair amount of pain and strife, but not to this degree. This, to me, seemed overdone and like overkill.

These girls don't bloom - they plummet. They plummet deep into the worst parts of themselves, unable to get a grip on how they once were. Actually, they're struggling to be what they once were, utterly unable to let go of the past. Honestly, it was painful for me to read. Their transformations are like nothing I ever expected. So, of course, this ruined the entire finale for me. 

But I can't pretend that Sisterhood Everlasting is a bad read. It is, in fact, a good read. A very good read. The pacing is tremendously slow, and the story drawn out, but the emotion cuts so deep and so true. Brashares has this way with words that works to present the girls out of their teenage years; the writing is truly beautiful and thought-provoking. 

Just don't expect a feel-good experience. This is rough, deep and will leave you with a heavy heart.

Waiting On Wednesday (15)

Waiting On Wednesday is from Jill, at Breaking the Spine.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her
irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Okay. If you read my raving review at all, you'd know how excited/thrilled/antsy/ECSTATIC I am to read this book. Seriously. Couldn't be more excited. This is one series where my interest skyrocketed (The Iron King was a bit shaky for me, then The Iron Daughter had me hooked.). So now I'm as loyal a fan as ever; I love to see a story progress as much as this one has.


....Oh, and have I mentioned they put it up on NetGalley?!

REVIEW! Stay.

STAY by Deb Caletti

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

Very, very, very poignant. 

Stay is one of the most insightful reads in the YA circuit, dealing with relationship issues of all kinds - friends, family, significant others. It's chilling and not at all a light read. It makes you question things; it makes you think. When a book can do that, you know it's special. Stay is special.

Caletti handles the topics of abuse well, almost tenderly.  Her writing is smooth and soft.  She incorporates soothing images into difficult themes, which keeps the book moving.  The balance created between the two levels the bad with the good. 

Clara is an annoying character at times because it's almost like she purposely frustrates the reader; every decision she makes, every little word she says, it's all unbelievable.  But the deeper into the story you get, the more you understand why. This is what I enjoyed most about the story: it develops. It's not a swift, action-packed tale. It's heartbreak, it's discovery, it's learning, it's healing. It's all of these feelings packaged into one, and while that comes off messy and unsettling to dive into, Caletti manages them so seamlessly.

Stay is a story you won't easily forget. It's troubling, but it resonates.

REVIEW! The Iron Queen.

THE IRON QUEEN
Julie Kagawa

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

My rating: 5 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

HOLY COW. WOW. WOWZA. STUPENDOUS!

The Iron Queen does not disappoint in any regards. Sure, there are a few overly repeated phrases used to convey character personalities. But otherwise, the drama gets you right in the gut, the action keeps you hanging on every word, and the romance just might bring you to tears. (Word of advice: keep tissues handy!)

This third part to the Iron Fey series is simply a knockout; it takes the loose ends from the previous two (Iron King and Iron Daughter) and weaves them together into a complete picture. Granted, this does not take away from the suspense or mystery Kagawa creates. If anything, it justifies the two. Just when you begin to doubt the plot and characters, something comes along to reel you right back in. The Iron Queen is a constant tug of war on your emotions. It comes off frantic, but in the end, it all makes sense.

It's in this installment that the characters steal the show.  They don't just grow, they build off of one another, working cohesively. It's an interesting mix for sure, when the plot in the previous two is what took precedence. Getting to the core of Meghan, Puck and Ash shapes the story; while at times they seem one dimensional or cookie cutter in the previous books, they show their true selves in The Iron Queen and it's a refreshing surprise. You won't be able to stay unattached to any of them.

Really, I could go on, but I think my opening sentiments sum up my feelings enough.

** You all need to read this book!
And be on the lookout for the upcoming book, The Iron Knight, being released 10/25/11!
I'm not sure I've ever gotten so worked up about a book before. I mean, I have. But not recently. This is easily my favorite read of 2011 so far. How I'm possibly going to wait for The Iron Knight, I have no idea. I'm already dying to know what happens and have been bragging about this to friends. I think I may be in love with this book. (And Ash!)