Book Review: Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

Series: Flynn #1

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Pages: 247

When River auditions for a part in an interschool performance of Romeo and Juliet, she finds herself smitten by Flynn, the boy playing Romeo. But Flynn comes from a damaged family—is he even capable of giving River what she wants? The path of true love never did run smooth . . .


This is real life, not a rehearsal... (Summary from Goodreads.com)

River auditions for a female role in a local all boys' school production of Romeo and Juliet.

She has always dreamt of finding true love so she believes that she'll fit into Juliet's shoes perfectly. Then, she sees Flynn. He's playing Romeo and causes her to not only believe that she could be a good Juliet, but he makes her want it.

The only problem is that Emmi, River's best friend, is running for the same role. 

You follow River as she falls head over heals for Flynn and tries to find out if he feels the same way.

I don't like Shakespeare nor do I like Romeo and Juliet. BUT I adored this novel! I actually picked it up after reading "Star-crossed Romeo and Juliet" by Rachel Wing as the two books sounded similar-ish (only in that novel, the teens cast as Romeo and Juliet are enemies). It's another fabulous romance novel!

Anyway, back to this book! The soul focus of this novel isn't actually on the play 'Romeo and Juliet'. That's just a... catalyst, if you like? The book is actually more so about the characters. 

This novel isn't at all like I expected. When I first picked it up I thought it would literally be a retelling of Romeo and Juliet or a cat and mouse game - River chasing Flynn. It isn't at all like that. I thought the novel would be predictable and patronising but it is actually unique and mature. I laughed with River, I cringed for her and I understood her.

I like how Flynn has his flaws and how you have to debate with yourself whether or not his actions can be justified. How friendships and family relationships are put to the test under the pressure. The characters are all so real and their stories are heart-wrenching. This book is way more in depth than I thought it would be and has a few twists you won't see coming.

I read it in one sitting and recommend it to any romance/contemporary readers out there. :) I do recommend it for 15+ though as some of the topics covered (though handled lightly) might not be appreciated by younger readers.

Book Review: Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide To Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls

Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Te Da Media
Pages: 244

Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?

That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.

This book contains strong language, drinking, euphemisms, and lots of “bow chicka wow wow.” (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Hilarious! A down to earth novel with characters you want to hit over the head, laugh with and laugh at. I devoured this book in one sitting and will probably re-read it again in the future. A must read for teenagers 15+

The characters had great personalities. They were funny, kind, stupid, selfish, ; they were human. Typical teenagers who managed to stay unique in their own way.

The story is simple and realistic but at the same time is highly unpredictable which made it all the more enjoyable! With so many scenes being easy to relate to, I really can't think of anyone who wouldn't really enjoy this book! It was funny but had enough 'serious' scenes in it to keep it real. I certainly cracked a smile, heck, I laughed my socks off!

A cringe-worthy yet hilarious novel! A must read!

Book Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #3

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 327
Source: Borrowed from friend

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Who knows how to write a great ending to a great series? Rachel Hawkins does! I regret that it took me so long to read it after its release. It's hard for me to review a book that is the last in a series, because I want to be like, "Everything was just as good as the last books but it's better because it's the end and things are concluded."

As usual, Hawkins exposes us to a cast of charming characters. Sophie is still sarcastic and entertaining--definitely not a character to be forgotten--and making her toughest decisions yet(it's crazy to think about how much she has grown since this journey began)! Should she take back her powers and risk being controlled by the enemy? Should she quietly plan an attack or face the enemy outright? What kind of attack could she possibly plan? And how in the world is she handle the two guys pining after her? Speaking of which--Cal and Archer? Yes. I love that it's not so much a love triangle. I mean, Sophie is kinda confused about her feelings, but she knows who she wants to be with. It doesn't seemed tried or tiresome like a lot of YA love triangles. Not to mention both guys are really great in their own ways (Archer's...well...hotness and Cal's kindness--both willing to do anything for Sophie). I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet. Jenna is still Sophie's loyal companion, and a great example of friendship in YA. And Sophie's parents are always looking out for her, which is something I admire in  a book.

I loved that we meet the Brannicks in this book and find out that they're not at all who we thought they were. The whole plot really is just enthralling and the pacing is speedy. I was dying to figure out what happened after Demonglass and I was not disappointed. However, Hawkins did not give me the answers easily. In the beginning, she granted us very little reprieve and left us wondering what happened to certain characters. Once the characters are reunited, it is not exactly an ideal situation. Throw in some plot twists (one of which was MAJOR) and ba-ba-BAM. If there is one thing Hawkins is good at, it's throwing in wonderfully awful obstacles. In the end, I'm really happy with the way things were wrapped up, though there were a few things (one in particular) that really devastated me.

This whole series is an adventure that, even if you're paranormal-wary, you don't want to miss. It's exciting and interesting and engaging. Definitely something to read when you're looking for a distraction. It's been a few weeks since I've read this book and I've forgotten a lot, but I have not forgotten how enjoyable the experience of reading this book was. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books When I Need Something Light and Fun

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook - This book is so full of shenanigans and letting loose! 

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - Evie is such a fun narrator and I love all the different paranormal creatures.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade - Alona is bitchy and full of herself to the point of humor. Will has that whole "let the world burn" attitude. An unlikely romance blooms between 2 flippant characters creating an altogether fun read.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - Paris atmosphere, cute boys...YUM! This book is super cute and fluffy.

The Collector by Victoria Scott - Dante's voice is definitely something you don't find every day in YA. It was a fun read.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill - London. A hunt for a mystery boy. With a hot boy at her side. It's one awesome adventure!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - Using magic to fight evil paranormal creatures with a side of sarcasm. All of Hawkins's books are quick, exciting reads!

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - Power to women!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally - I love the concept of this book: a team full of awesome, funny football guys and one girl just trying to figure things out among them. This book is really fun.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - This book may not necessarily be "light" but it is an interesting story without a whole lot of depth and very easy to lose yourself in.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Finished:
Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
Wait For You by J. Lynn
Golden by Jessi Kirby

Current: 
All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

Next:
The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni

OMG and I take the AP Language test this Friday. *Fingers crossed*

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 392

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

 "They say be a good girl. Get good grades. They know nothing about me."

A brave, riveting and truly powerful novel - Pushing the limits will drive the devastating aspects of young Echo's life closer to home than you may have thought possible.
 
I loved this novel to pieces! Katie McGarry is a talented author who I'm glad was daring enough to tackle the challenging topics of love, loss and life itself, but most importantly how cruel they all can be.

Told from alternating perspectives, we follow Echo, whose memory has been regressed due to a traumatic experience, and Noah, whose life took a turn for the worse and who now hates the system for not playing fair. The pair are an unlikely match but after being kicked down, we watch the story progress to see if they have what it takes to help each other get back up.

What hit me the most was how easy this novel was to relate to, even if none of the delicate issues raised in the novel have been experienced by you first hand. Maybe you're not Noah, a foster kid who's fighting to try and get his life back, or Echo, a damaged teen attending therapy sessions to try and find out why her life hit rock bottom. But maybe you're the one whose insecurity has a hold over you, controls what you wear and where you go? Maybe you're someone who is fighting a losing battle but are refusing to give up. You may even be the girl, or guy, people stare at and mock in the corridor, the one they whisper about and misunderstand.. You might be the friend who always offers a shoulder to cry on, or just a bystander who watches it happen. Heck, you might even be the *cough* selfish, vile, weak, pathetic *cough* person who gives the glares, starts the rumors and excludes the ones who aren't 'cool' enough. But my point is, whoever you are, there's something in this novel that you can relate to.

The characterisation is a majorly strong element in this novel; everything Echo and Noah fought for I  found myself wanting so badly too, for them - that's how real they seemed, how much McGarry made me care for them. Both characters are realistic, easy to relate to and down to earth; they both have very distinct and unique voices and personalities.

I don't really want to spoil anything so I have deliberately not mentioned the problems the characters face because the fun of the novel is understanding the characters, their lives and unraveling the mystery of what actually happened to them and why. Though I will say that I loved how you discover Echo's past alongside her, she never knows more than you do, and how you stand by Noah as he never stops fighting. I'm not going to lie, my heart ached for Echo and I cried enough to fill the ocean over Noah's story - maybe that's just me, I don't know, but even if you don't cry, you'll be touched!

Having said that, this was no a sad/depressing story. It was a journey with both its ups and downs which was overall just as heart-warming as it was heart-wrenching. I really do hope people take something away with them after reading this novel, even if it's just making people more aware before they make judgments.

OH! THE ROMANCE! How have I not mentioned that?! The chemistry between Echo and Noah was hot, sexy and the strength they offered one another was admirable. The romance was a great part of the book (the majority of the book I guess) but it was necessary as it moved the plot along. The love Noah and Echo had for each other, for their families and for 'normal' was extraordinary.

I really can't explain how much I adored this novel. I recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Book Review: A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
Series: The Colors of Madeleine #1
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Format: Digital Galley
Pages: 387
Source: Received for review from publisher via NetGalley

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...(Summary from Goodreads.com)

Okay, so...this book. There have been some good, some bad, some in between things said about this book. I went into this book utterly unsure. In all honesty, I'd advise people to go into this book with hesitancy, especially if you are not overly experienced in the fantasy genre (like me) and don't have patience to pick through the world building (like me). 

Let me just say, the first 120 pages or so were not a good experience for me. I was confused, bored, and failed to see a plot. I think the author was trying to get the worldbuilding and characterization out of the way, but by golly it could have been done better. There were parts of the worldbuilding I liked, like the little excerpts from the travel guide, or the newspaper from the Princesses. I think in the end, the Kingdom of Cello became more alive to me than Cambridge (which is our world). But really, I didn't feel connected to either of the worlds--or any of the characters. In the beginning it was worse. The dialogue was weird, their actions confused me. I guess there came a point where it all clicked and I began to understand them (though I think the writing sort of changed throughout and that's why it became less confusing), but I still couldn't connect to them. I was reading about their struggles and I was thinking, "Gee, I really hope they find a solution," but I was not immersed in their characters. I didn't really feel anything for them. Half the time, I didn't even know what they were feeling. 

Eventually the plot picked up too and became more clear, and more interesting. I think there was a lot of fluff building up to the guts in Cambridge. Like random, nonsensical conversations without relevance (which I think were for characterization purposes but really just annoyed me). I really did enjoy all that was going on in The Kingdom of Cello, like the Butterfly Child, the color attacks, the missing persons reports, the Twicklehams. There was more going on in Cello than in Cambridge and the book would have been entirely more interesting if the author matched the amount of eventfulness in Cambridge to the amount of eventfulness in Cello. To me, it felt like Moriarty needed to include the real world side because of the crack, but the plot wasn't as developed or interesting as it could have been. And, even though Cambridge is a whole other country than me, it didn't feel like it took place in our modern world (which is what made the pop-culture references seem out of place). 

To top it all off, the writing wasn't even the greatest. Sometimes I didn't really know what the author was trying to say, and I skimmed over some things, and there were random pop culture references thrown in. There were a lot of things that felt stilted, or awkward. However, I did enjoy all the facts. About Isaac Newton and colors. I found it interesting and there were quite a few insightful things mixed in with all of it that I made sure to commit to memory. 

This grew into something interesting, though not altogether entertaining. I don't think I'd recommend this to teenagers, especially the ones who aren't avid readers. It wasn't my favorite, but I think more mature teens and adults could find it a worthwhile read. I will definitely be reading the second one, because with the majority of characterization and worldbuilding out of the way, and hopefully more plot in the way, I'm thinking it could be real good.