Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Liked More Than Expected

1) Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - Okay, I've loved the ID series since the first word but I never, and I mean never, expected to be flipped so up, down, diagonally by this book. 

2) Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble - I feel like this book is on almost all of my TTT posts. I can't help it; it's amazeballs. I read it almost 2 years ago and I'm still gushing about it, so that must tell you something. You can read my (very old) review for elaboration on my love for it.

3) Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - Going into this book (and even still) I wasn't very informed on the tale of Robin Hood, but boy did I fall in love. Once again, I read this over a year ago and I have not lost my love for it. My review (another old one).

4) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I'd heard amazing things about this book, but I'd never experienced John Green before and all the hype made me want to dislike it. I could have never anticipated the profound love of this book I acquired. My review.

5) Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - Oh my. I remember I was on a really bad reading drought. I just couldn't find anything I loved, but Cath Crowley did more than give me a book to love, she allowed me to fall in love with reading all over again. I didn't even like contemp novels at that time (funny, because I ADORE contemp now), but this book...The outpouring of my love.

6) Hushed by Kelley York - This is different than the typical YA book, that is for darn tootin'! My review.

7) The Bane by Keary Taylor - This one is actually a pretty recent read, as in I read it last week. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by a very interesting plot.

8) Zero by Tom Leveen - This book was so authentic. From awkward first-meetings to stupid mistakes and hulking insecurities. The review.

9) Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez - Tons of people said this book was AHMAZING but it didn't sound like...super fantabulosa. Well it was. It was emotional and had GREAT characters. In which I demand people read it.

10) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace - This is another recent read, and therefore it is still an open wound. It sounded interesting enough, but I never ever expected to feel so connected to the characters and their story. ALL THE FEELZ are still with me even after about a week or two after reading it. 

1) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - The blurb does it no justice and I didn't think I'd enjoy it at all but so many people recommended it and now I'm OBSESSED!

2) Star-Crossed by Rachael Wing - It's in second person, short and sweet, sooooo good!

3) Blood Red Road by Moira Young - I was put off by how it was written at first and was worried I wouldn't enjoy it but I reeeeeeally did!

4) Forsaken by Jana Oliver - I dislike third person but adore this series!

5) Shadows by Paula Weston - It just didn't appeal to me but I can honestly say I enjoyed it.

6) Hollowland by Amanda Hocking - The blurb is LAME! It should NOT exist!!!!!!! The book (and sequel) is amazing!! A must read!

These are all I can think of for now...

Quote Impressions: The Art-y Contemp Edition

These quotes are from books that have some sort of artistic influence in them, be it the main character or a painting in a house. 

“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.” - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

“I guess love's kind of like a marshmallow in a microwave on high. After it explodes it's still a marshmallow. but, you know, now it's a complicated marshmallow.” - Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

“I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them.” - Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen 

“Friends are how God apologizes for your family." - Zero by Tom Leveen

“'You can't beat yourself up anymore,' he says. 'And you can't compare your thing to my thing or to anyone else's thing on the how-bad-should-I-feel? scale.'” - Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Book Review: Zero by Tom Leveen

Zero by Tom Leveen

Series: StandaloneGenre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Format: eARC
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

For aspiring artist Amanda Walsh, who only half-jokingly goes by the nickname Zero, the summer before college was supposed to be fun—plain and simple. Hanging out with her best friend Jenn, going to clubs, painting, and counting down the days until her escape. But when must-have scholarship money doesn't materialize, and she has a falling out with Jenn that can only be described as majorly awkward, and Zero's parents relationship goes from tense to relentless fighting, her prospects start looking as bleak and surreal as a painting by her idol Salvador Dali. Will life truly imitate art? Will her new, unexpected relationship with a punk skater boy who seems too good to be real and support from the unlikeliest of sources show Zero that she's so much more than a name. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

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This book shocked me in the best way possible. I don't know what is up with me in artsy contemporary books, but I just fall in love with each one I read. Zero by Tom Leveen is real. It covers the self-deprecating insecurities that come with being a teenage girl, the frightening excitement that comes with all the firsts of falling in love. Add to that a beautiful swirl of art and music, and you have one marvelous novel!

Zero is an artist with some serious insecurities. She thinks she's a cow and her parents are too busy with their constant fighting to help subside those insecurities. She's afraid that her entire summer is going to be wrapped in boredom because she just lost her best friend and she didn't get accepted into her dream college. Mike is the gorgeous-eyed drummer who had a really bad run with his ex-girlfriend. He's more experienced than she is, but the fact that he was previously burned prevents him from really wanting to GO THERE, if ya know what I mean. Actually, if anything, it was the other way around. Zero pressured Mike to do things he wasn't ready for. I could tell from the get-go that, despite his rockerness, Mike is a good guy and that he is going to treat Zero well. He helped her reach for her goals and dreams. He helped her gain confidence and believe in herself. And, not to mention, I'm sort of obsessed with the drums and have a serious thing for drummer dudes.

I loved their relationship. It began with extreme awkwardness, which made it so real and familiar and relatable. And somehow their feelings bloomed into something that manages to transcend that initial awkwardness. There's no instant, "OMG I LOVE THIS GUY SO MUCH AND WE ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED AND MAKE BABIEZZZZZZZ." Their relationship progressed naturally. There are rough spots and there are not-so-rough (soft?) spots. They're not the perfect couple with this unwavering bolt of lightning crackling between them, but they are perfect for each other and each encounter between the two of them made my tummy tumble in a good way. It did annoy me that Zero refused to listen to what Mike really wanted. She was a little self-absorbed in their relationship, not even when it was extremely obvious that something has him down.

There were little things thrown in the pages that I wish would have surfaced more and caused more drama. Instead they just sort of lurked in the background, adding to the overall angst that Zero feels. I really wish that the situation with Jenn, her former best friend, would have come into the light more. It was a great sub-plot and it didn't get enough page time. Also, I feel the whole parent ordeal was elevated just a little more. It was there screwing up Zero's life and whatnot, but maybe just a little more? Is it horrible that I want her life to be just a tad bit more miserable?

The end, though, left me satisfied. The character and plot growth is obvious. The way things turned out was happy, even though there were a lot of little loose threads hanging from the tied ends.

Overall, I loved this book! It has an unflinching, authentic quality that really stayed with me. Some of the content will make younger audiences uncomfortable (except me, because I clearly have no comfort zone). But underneath it all is a novel about branching out and pursuing what seems to be impossible.