Isla and the Happily Ever After

Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: Anna and the French Kiss # 3
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: 14 August 2014
Summary: From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever. Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Review: **Let me preface this by saying that this has been the hardest review I’ve had to write in a while.  It’s been a week since I read this lovely, lovely story and I’m still trying to put into words just how much I loved it, so bear with me while you read this.**

Isla and Josh.  So similar and so different to Anna and Lola.  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I always felt that Anna and Lola were essentially the same story, with the perspectives flipped (Lola reminded me of Etienne and Anna reminded me of Cricket) essentially the characters are going through the same thing, wanting each other and figuring out how to get that.  With Isla and Josh the circumstances are very much different.

Isla opens in New York City, on a dark night with a female character who has a stronger voice than I thought she would.  Portrayed as quiet and shy in Anna and the French Kiss, I wasn’t sure how she was going to live within her own story; and although I had enjoyed Josh in Anna and the French Kiss, I wasn’t sure he could stand on his own as a romantic lead.  Let’s just say my expectations were definitely exceeded.

I won’t lie, even with my trepidation towards our main characters, Isla and the Happily Ever After was by far my most anticipated read of 2015.  I’ve had it on pre-order since you could have it on pre-order.  I follow Stephanie Perkins on twitter and knew about why the release date was pushed back and was in complete support of her, but I’m going to be honest I WANTED THE BOOK IN MY HANDS IMMEDIATELY, as soon as I finished Lola I wanted Isla, so I already had a love for the book before I even read it.

The main difference with Isla was this: where Anna and Lola were about the leading up to and very beginning of a relationship, Isla starts off with the beginning and leads us through a relationship; all of the messy, beautiful, funny, and heartbreaking aspects of it.  I was afraid Isla would fall short as a protagonist, until I realized that Isla was me. 

I’ve always felt like my favorite books were the ones when I identified with the main character on a personal level, and I really identified with Isla.  I was never confident like Anna, or outgoing and crazy like Lola, sure I wanted to be that way, but I wasn’t (still am not) but I was like Isla.  Quiet and terrified of talking to that boy (you know the one.  You still check up on him on social media, but if you saw him in real life it would be: ‘do I know you from somewhere?  High school maybe?’) I need an extra shot of caffeine to get up the nerve to talk to guys that I really think are adorable, and throughout high school, and most of college I felt like a blank slate – something Isla refers to herself as.

Isla was just as heartbreaking if not more so that Anna and Lola, but it was more rewarding too.  Josh was perfect, and Isla was perfect for him.  There were so many moments in the novel where you realize that these two people are just so incredibly perfect for each other – not just their personalities, but how much they value each other, and how much they realize that the other is perfect for them.  Although I got this feeling overall when I read the previous two novels, with Isla you got to see the entire relationship, not just the ‘trying to get to a relationship.’  You get to see the messy bits, and see why it made them stronger.  It was an incredible thing to read. 

The only thing I didn’t like was how much more awareness is brought to the type of people that these characters are.  When I read Anna and again when I read Lola I didn’t realize how upper-class these characters must have been.  They seem so down to earth – so realistic and middle class, and in this novel it was very apparent that Josh and Isla come from an entirely different world, one of glamour and glitz and lots of money.

It wasn’t a negative aspect to the story, but it also played a bigger part in this novel than in the previous two (I don’t know any kids, who can afford to run off to Barcelona, regardless of whether they’re living in Paris or not).  Did their personalities reflect this? No, not really, but there were situations in the book that did and that made it seem less realistic than the first two novels.

Overall I loved Isla and the Happily Ever After, I loved it just as much as Anna and Lola.  I loved that we got cameos from our favorites (OMG YAY!!!  I mean, you’ll know the moment I’m talking about, but AKJDHSKJGHOIH!!!!) and that the truth was in the title, even though it wasn’t always there.  I just think if you loved Anna and Lola you’re going to automatically love Isla for all of its similarities, but most importantly for its differences.

Disney Princess Cookbook

Author: Cynthia Littlefield
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Cookbook
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: 1 October 2013
Summary: From Rapunzel's Frying Pan Eggs to Ariel's Sea Turtle Cupcakes, this beautiful cookbook is filled with delicious recipes inspired by the Princesses' many adventures. With simple step-by-step instructions, mouth-watering photos of each dish, and helpful tips from the Princesses themselves, this cookbook makes it easy to whip up some kitchen magic.
Review:  When I told junebug I was going to review a cookbook she kind of freaked out, so let me just say: I KNOW this is out of the norm for me, and I take full responsibility if you guys think this is a bad idea, but this is just such a fantastic cookbook and I can't help but promote it.  To start, a history.  I don't cook a lot, or bake a lot for that matter.  I can make chocolate chip cookies and macaroni and cheese from a box, and I considered those my crowning achievements in the kitchen.  The problem?  I am a total sucker for cookbooks, I have, like five, which isn't a lot compared to most people, but for someone who barely braves the microwave on a good day, it's kind of a bad habit.  I've attempted recipes from all of the cookbooks I own (and multiple recipes from The Harry Potter Cookbook) and they were all 1. hard for me to understand, and 2. never turned out the way I think they were meant to.
Low and behold this book comes through cataloging one day and I freak out.  A cookbook!  A Disney Princess cookbook.  What the WHAT?  Yes, yes I will be checking you out and taking you home.  I browsed the recipes, they were fun and catchy, and the illustrations of the princesses were beautiful, and every recipe had a photograph to go with it.  Plus there was a rating system from easy to hard.  Well, the library doesn't let you keep things forever so I ended up asking for this for my birthday.
I've made five recipes since then (my birthday was about 3 weeks ago) and they've all turned out great!  Some of you may think: duh, you're using a cookbook designed for 5-10 year olds of course they're going to work; but let me tell you: rarely does anything I bake turn out so well on the first try, and rarely do I try new things that consistently turn out well: BUT THESE DID.
I've made: Pascal's Pancakes, Frying Pan Eggs, Belle's Baguette, Aurora's Homemade Jam, and Snow White's Apple Dumplings and they've all been delicious, and I can't WAIT to try the rest of the recipes because they ALL sound superb (I'm a picky eater, so rarely does every recipe sound absolutely tantalizing, but all of the recipes in this sound fab.) if you've got picky eaters at home, get your hands on a copy - if you don't want to purchase it, put in a patron request at your local library.
I highly recommend this for anyone who is just getting in to baking, has little girls who are Disney Princess fans, or someone looking for fun, easy recipes to try.  Whether your five or ninety-five, this cookbook is pretty fantastic.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before # 1
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age
Publisher: Simon and Shuster books for Young Readers
Released: 15 April 2014
Summary: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
Review:  Dear Jenny Han,
Thank you for writing a book that was literally me in high school.  I actually have a box of letters I wrote to the boys who didn’t know I existed, but I loved anyway (though unfortunately not a hat box, just an old Keds shoebox).  I haven’t identified as much with a character like I did with Lara Jean in years.  As a matter of fact, this book made me go and read all of your other books to.  They all made me cry (although this one didn’t) and I loved them.  Really really loved them.  But I have to say, something about Lara Jean, and the Song sisters.  I just adored them the most.
So thanks, Jenny Han.  Don’t stop writing, ever.
E.

ACTUAL REVIEW

The positives: The story, but more than the story: the letters.  The letters are what makes this book amazing, I actually ended up taking a photocopy of the Peter K letter and tucking it into my bag so whenever I’m feeling down I can read it and then laugh my butt of.  Imagine my surprise when that was what Jenny Han chose to read when I went to one of her author events a few weeks ago.  It was amazing to hear her talk about her inspiration for Lara Jean, and the Song girls, and it made the story that much more special.

I also loved the relationship that Lara Jean has with her sisters, where this book could have come off as the stereotypical YA Romance, there was a lot more depth.  Lara Jean has to grow up, and is trying so hard to take her place as the resident oldest kid in the house, the letters are just a way to move her into that.  I loved reading her grow, it was done in such a subtle beautiful way that only Jenny Han can.
And finally the comedy, this is, in my opinion, Jenny Han’s funniest novel yet.  There were so many small jokes and insights that show just how much Jenny Han knows about being a sister.   I loved the dialogue between Lara Jean and Kitty, and Lara Jean and Peter K.  Although Lara did act a little young for her age I felt like it fit perfectly with how she grew up, and how she was treated for most of her life by her sister, and the people around her.
The negatives: There are none.

Rebel Belle

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Untitled – but first in a planned series
Genre: Paranormal Comedy
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Released: 8 April 2014
Summary: Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
Review:  Many of you probably already know this, but I was late to the Rachel Hawkins fan club.  I didn’t read Hex Hall until famed Goodreads YA reviewer Wendy Darling recommended it.  I had seen it on the shelf at the library, and just by passed it as ‘probably something like Twilight’ (it wasn’t, by the way.)  However, after reading Hex Hall I was officially a fan of Rachel Hawkins, a pretty big fan as a matter of fact, and when I heard the promo blurb for Rebel Belle I knew, just knew that it was going to lodge itself in my heart, and I would do whatever it took to get my hands on it ASAP (it doesn’t take much, btw.  Just the release day shipping option on Amazon.)
And, let me tell you something, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Like, you have no idea.  I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the overall tone of the story.  It feels like summer, and it’s hilarious.  I’m not one to laugh out loud when I read, but man I was laughing so hard I almost cried when I read this.  
I loved Harper, I loved the incorporation of the Southern elements, I loved her interior monologue about David’s wardrobe, and I liked the love triangle (that was kind of non-existent, in my opinion.)
Now, I know what you’re going to say “another YA love triangle, are we serious here.”  Umm, yes?  I mean: yes.  We are serious.  This one is the same but different.  Overall there is never a doubt as to who Harper is going to end up with, and to be honest David’s mishaps are atypical high school boy.  I feel like I probably would have been like David in high school – heck I was like David in high school (expect for the fact that I was, you know, a girl.)  But my school was divided, and I didn’t like the stuck up kids who seemed to have air where their brains should be.  It was the realization that David comes to – that it’s okay to think seemingly superficial things are actually important, that made this story work for me.  Although nothing is told from David’s perspective, you can tell there is a lot going on with him as a character, as does Harper – but Harper wasn’t what really got me into this.  It was David.  Hand’s down – and don’t get me started on Ryan.  Hmmm, he really pulled through in the end – unexpectedly.
I recommend this to any and all fans of paranormal books, Hawkins’ other series, and comedy.  Or, you know, everyone who loves books in general. 

Second Star

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Series: Stand alone (for now)
Genre: Retelling, Mystery, Romance
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release: 13 May 2014
Summary: A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary ocean side 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 Pete's 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 a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.
Review:  I should say something up front: I was one of those little girls obsessed with two (count them two) things when I was little; Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid.  So far in my life I have yet to read a Little Mermaid retelling that I have enjoyed past experiences were so disheartening that I did dare go near any Peter Pan retellings. (Because seriously – some of those Mermaid retelling are just downright awful).  When I read the premise for Second Star and noticed that it takes place at my favorite place (the BEACH) with some of my favorite kinds of people (SURFERS), well, let’s just say it was going to be a recipe for love, or disaster.
We landed about in the middle (but more love than hate – obviously.)

 

**WARNING HERE BE SPOILERS: CONTINUE READING AT YOUR OWN RISK**

 

Second Star was beautiful, I loved the imagery, the plot like, the way Sheinmel took the original tale and made it her won.  It was, in my opinion, a darn near perfect retelling – except for one small detail: I kept waiting for the true-blue magic to happen.  I kept thinking; “okay, we’ve set this up – let’s head to Neverland y’all.”  And then I realized: we were already there.
Sheinmel blends the real world with Neverland completely effortlessly.  I’ll admit, by the end I was slightly confused at what was happening – was Wendy crazy?  Like seriously crazy?  What did I just read?  Where are Pete and Jas? I mean – WTH?  Then I thought about it more – and more – and more – and got *it* (don’t judge).  If Peter Pan had taken place with a 17 year old Wendy the outcome would have been exactly the same as it was in the book.  Exactly.  I mean, I was seriously questioning her sanity from the audience perspective; and I didn’t start to question her sanity until after almost ¾ of the book (when she’s found on the beach and nothing is like she remembered.)  I mean, a modern day Wendy Darling would have almost certainly been committed, or put into psycho-therapy (which is what happens).
So how did she end up in Neverland?  Was it all in her head?  Did I even care? No. Not really.  I loved the slow burn of the relationship she had with Pete and Jas respectively.  I loved that it was very clearly explained why she chose Jas over Pete (for grown up reasons – like that he will support her decisions!) I loved that she states, specifically why Pete isn’t right for her (he’s a manipulator and a big fat liar.)  I even enjoyed the “fairy dust” aspect (though truthfully calling it fairy dust was also where I had the hang up – I thought Michael and John had somehow gotten to actual Neverland and Jas and Pete wanted to take Wendy to Neverland too, not that they were actually hardcore drug users.)
I liked the slow devolution of Wendy’s psyche and her drive.  It made me question how I would react if I lost either of my brothers – would I fall down the rabbit hole as far as Wendy did?  Would I go even further?
Even writing this review, new perspectives and ideas are coming to mind.  This book is effortless and beautiful and is the first honest “updated” retelling of a fairytale that I have read and loved.  It takes the characters and places and tone you loved about the original and makes is plausible and real in today’s world. 
The ending sets this up for a possible sequel, though I think it works perfectly as a standalone (I wouldn’t mind a sequel – more Jas?  I WILL TAKE IT!)  I would recommend this to readers who like retellings, beautiful language, fun, contemporary tales, books with a lot of heart, and teen book clubs.

These Broken Stars

Author(s): Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Series: Starbound # 1

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Released: 11 December 2013

Summary: courtesy goodreads.com It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 
Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?
Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.
--

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy. 

My: Review: These Broken Stars is, by far, one of my favorite science fiction reads of all time.  And it IS my favorite survivalist story.  There were so many layers to this novel, so much meat on the bones of this story, and so much genuinely great storytelling that I really don’t know where to begin.

Let me begin by saying: all of the love this book already has, all of the anticipation, is totally and completely deserved.  This novel, literally, has something for every reader.

The world building in These Broken Stars is real and believable.  I saw this alien planet, its similarities and its differences of what we view as normal.  There were sections of this book that literally had my heart racing with fear.  The unknown aspect is so perfectly and beautifully and horrifically illustrated and I felt I too had crash landed on an unknown planet with Lilac and Tarver.  It is so effortlessly real.

Lilac and Tarver were both well rounded characters.  Their relationship with one another reminded me of another favorite series (Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky - though Lilac and Tarver’s relationship is one step farther, deeper, darker, and gritter.) This book kept me reading late into the night – and made me want to keep the lights on.  There is so much happening that this will appeal to readers of every genre, both boys and girls.  It is transcendent throughout ages.  I think everyone from a grandmother to a teenager is going to find something in this book that they can relate to, whether it’s Lilac’s initial need to retain a standard set by society, or Tarver’s unwillingness to fail – this is one of the most relatable and best books I have ever read; unexpectedly so.

I don’t generally like to spoil a novel in a review, but I will say this: the ending of this novel is unexpected, heart wrenching, and incredibly great writing.  I am excited to see where Kaufman and Spooner take us next because they have both created a world that I cannot wait to return to. I also cannot wait until this book hits shelves so I can recommend it to every one that I meet.  It will definitely be one that I gift for Christmases or Birthdays or those that just need a heavy dose of awesome, because that's exactly what this book is.  A heavy does of freaking awesome.

Eleanor and Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Series: Stand Alone (please no!)

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin

Released: 26 February 2013

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

My Review: I cannot get enough of Rainbow Rowell lately.  I follow her on tumblr and twitter and I wish she had an Instagram.  Basically she has reached the same prophetic levels as John Green in my whole author fandom thing.  I’m pretty sure if I were to meet her in real life I would start crying or something equally embarrassing.  Are you ready to know why? OKAY! HERE’S WHY!

Eleanor and Park literally broke my heart and put it back together again.  Now, I will admit, I was approved for this title almost a year ago on NetGalley, I read it, and I didn’t feel strongly either way on it.  I didn’t love it, but I didn’t really hate it either.  Then I read Fangirl (and Fangirled over Fangirl) and decided to research Eleanor and Park a little bit more.  John Green had endorsed it, that alone was a pretty big get for me.  And then I read this article on Rainbow Rowell’s website about how much she loved the audio version, so I finally signed up for Audible and downloaded my free book (I’ve never read an author endorsing their audio book before unless they themselves have read it) and then went on to Amazon and bought the print version.

Before I go on, there is something you should know.  I’m not usually a fan of audio books.  I like the voices I come up with in my head.  I don’t travel a lot or have a long commute, and I prefer records.  I also read faster than most narrators, and I don’t find them very engaging, they never sound like the characters in my head.  The audio version of Eleanor and Park is one in a million because I absolutely love it.  In turn, I ended up truly and fully falling in love with Eleanor and Park.

Not only are they relatable, both singularly and as a couple, I loved that Eleanor’s life wasn’t perfect, but she still found happiness.  The overall tone of Eleanor and Park, for me, is hope.  Yes, there are definitely depressing parts to this novel, but this novel also accurately depicts a life.  Maybe not your life, maybe not my life, but it depicts a life just as real and true as any of ours, and it’s unapologetic and beautiful.  In a world where contemporary young adult novels aren’t really the norm anymore, Eleanor and Park stands out.  It’s authors like Rainbow Rowell, John Green, and Melina Marchetta that make me remember why I love reading.  Because I love experiencing different lives, and I love getting the opportunity to identify with people.  I grew up in a white upper middle class suburb.  I didn’t have any friends who (to my knowledge) were like Eleanor or Park, and getting the opportunity to see life through their eyes, to see each other the way they see each other, and to live for just a few hours, the same way they did resonated with me.  I feel like I want to stand and shout from the rooftops, “I get it world! I get why you love Eleanor and Park!  I do too!  Let’s live in this beautiful tragic lovely world together.”

Let’s do it.

Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Series: Stand Alone

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Released: 10 September 2013

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My Review:  Every once in a while a book comes along that reminds you what it’s like to be alive.  I won’t lie, I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy books lately.  Don’t get me wrong, fantasy books are awesome.  My favorite genre though, is contemporary.  A genre that Rainbow Rowell excels at.  I read Eleanor and Park at the beginning of the year and was a little mixed about it for a while, I had never read anything like it before.  I knew I liked it, but I wasn't sure if I loved it, but when I saw Fangirl at the store (for an obscenely good price – without the shipping wait on Amazon) I picked it up without a second thought (I’ll admit there was a LOT of cover love going on).  Then I got home, realized I still had to read a few books for work, etc. and would fall asleep every night staring longingly at Fangirl, waiting for the moment when I could devote my whole world to reading it, because I knew (you know when you have that feeling – you see a book and you just know it’s going to change you? – That’s the feeling I had.) it was going to demand my attention.  And it did.

First up, I will admit – I didn’t realize Simon Snow was a Harry Potter-esque character – for some reason I thought he was the lead singer in a boy band (I OBVIOUSLY did not read the blurb closely enough), this was quickly dispelled when I opened this book and read the first page - which I loved – I literally loved this books from page one! (har har).  And, although I am not a stranger to fanfiction (I’ve never written any – but I read a lot of it growing up) Fangirl took me into a whole new world – while never leaving this one.

I identified with Fangirl more than I thought I would.  Leaving your family behind to go to college, the feelings of separation and loss, discovering yourself for the first time and struggling with that.  I liked that Cath had problems, that she had anxiety.  I loved that she had people willing to love her anyway – like Reagan and Levi (I LOVED Reagan, why did I not have a roommate like Reagan in college?!)  I also loved how incredibly real this novel was.  I felt like a lot of this novel was my college experience (except my English teachers weren’t nearly as fun).  I remember hitching rides home on the weekend – being really scared to try and find the dining hall – rooms the size of most people’s closets – thinking that my college experience was the definition of adulthood and then graduating and realizing it was just a stepping stone.

Fangirl perfectly depicts the American college experience – for me.  It’s a novel about growing up and becoming the adult and the friend to your parents and siblings instead of the child and the sister. Rowell perfectly captures the emotions, and the situations of what its like to be a freshman in the most beautiful and enamoring way possible.  I don’t want to think of what the world would be like without books by authors like Rainbow Rowell in it.  Definitely less beautiful, and a lot let feeling, and a lot less awesome.  (seriously though – a LOT less awesome).

And that last page – gah.  I actually had tears in my eyes – WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE OVER?!  I highlighted it and have been repeating it over and over to myself.  “Ready or not here I come.  Here I come, ready or not.”  Never have I identified with a book more in one sentence then I did there.  Rainbow Rowell - here is me, promising to read everything you write from now until the end of days.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Author: Holly Black

Series: stand-alone (?)

Genres: Paranormal, Vampires, Contemporary, Young Adult

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Released: 3 September 2013

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

My Review:  

Dear Holly Black, you pretty much rocked my world.  This novel was one of the best takes on vampire lore in young adult fiction I have ever read.  Thank you for making a book about vampires so delightfully scary.  Thank you for making them actually drink the blood of humans.  Thank you for making them actually want to.  Holly Black, I just gotta say: If I could rap I would write a rap about how great I think you are.  About how I think you’re a pretty much the coolest.  I loved this book.  I loved how much I felt.  I loved how terrifying this book was.  I’m glad I slept with the light on.  I still am a week later.  Thanks for making a great cast of characters.  Thanks for going the Anne Rice route.  And thanks, for creating a YA vampire novel that has finally, finally exceeded the rest.

You rock Ms Black.

Sincerely yours,

E

A Spark Unseen

Author: Sharon Cameron

Series: The Dark Unwinding # 2

Genres: Steampunk-lite, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic

Released: 24 September 2013

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron's blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She flees to Paris, where she hopes to remain undetected and also find the mysterious and handsome Lane, who is suspected to be dead.

But the search for Lane is not easy, and Katharine soon finds herself embroiled in a labyrinth of political intrigue. And with unexpected enemies and allies at every turn, Katharine will have to figure out whom she can trust--if anyone--to protect her uncle from danger once and for all.

Filled with deadly twists, whispering romance, and heart-stopping suspense, this sequel to THE DARK UNWINDING whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.

My Review: Those of you who know me, or who read this blog know that Sharon Cameron’s The Dark Unwinding was one of my favorite reads of 2012, and it was with much anticipation I awaited the release of A Spark Unseen, so when I was approved on NetGalley I had a little dance party.  Let me tell you – A Spark Unseen did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, this second novel is better than the first. 

First up I’m going to say the one thing I did not like about A Spark Unseen: Lane.  Where the heck is that boy.  Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that the major plot motivation in A Spark Unseen is Katharine looking for Lane, and I loved seeing Katharine grow as a character (and seeing how much she has grown in the eighteen months since Lane left).  I just really like Lane.  I liked his stoicism and his love of Uncle Tully, I liked how he grounded Katharine and never let her get away with anything, but alas.  I understand why he wasn’t there, I just would have liked it if he could have been.

Besides that, there isn’t much to do except for totally glow about this second novel.  I loved Cameron’s perspective of Paris, I loved how real she makes everything in her novels seem.  How she is able to heighten emotions in her novels, they’re so atmospheric.  I love how she is taking this incredible genre and isn’t retelling an already told story.  This is one of my favorite series because it is one of few that come close to having the same tone as Jane Eyre (which is above and beyond my favorite novel ever). I love that Cameron is exploring this genre and pushing it into the mainstream.  This is a series I love recommending to people time and time again because it has it all: there’s romance, action, adventure, mystery, and suspense (of the heart pounding variety), in addition to an excellent cast of characters.  The bad guys are worse (I found myself crying and shaking tears of anger and sadness), and the mystery is SO BIG I loved it.  There are some authors who can’t make mysteries of this size believable, but Sharon Cameron can, and she does so beautifully.  I am excited to read her future work, and I can only hope we get to see the wonderful cast and characters from this delicious series again.

(FYI: I DO understand why Lane wasn’t there, I just missed him like a hug. He’s one of my favorite YA guys, and I just didn’t like not having him around.  I understood why he wasn’t, and if he had been Katharine wouldn’t have been as incredible was she was, wouldn’t have grown as much.  What can I say, I just love me some Lane Moreau.)

This reviewer would like to thank NetGalley and Scholastic books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodbye, Rebel Blue

Author: Shelley Coriell

Series: stand-alone (takes place in the same school as Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe)

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Publisher: Amulet Books

Released: 1 October 2013

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Rebecca Blue is a rebel with an attitude whose life is changed by a chance encounter with a soon-to-be dead girl. Rebel (as she’s known) decides to complete the dead girl’s bucket list to prove that choice, not chance, controls her fate. In doing so, she unexpectedly opens her mind and heart to a world she once dismissed—a world of friendships, family, and faith. With a shaken sense of self, she must reevaluate her loner philosophy—particularly when she falls for Nate, the golden boy do-gooder who never looks out for himself. Perfect for fans of Jay Asher’s blockbuster hit Thirteen Reasons Why, Coriell’s second novel features her sharp, engaging voice along with realistic drama and unforgettable characters

My Review:  It is not a secret that I was a big fan of Shelley Coriell novel Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, but I had some reservations going in to Goodbye, Rebel Blue.  I’m not sure why, but based on the summary it seemed like this had been a little “overdone”.  My faith was wavering when it shouldn’t have.  Seriously.  Shelley Coriell reminds of Sarah Dessen in a big way.  Sarah Dessen, for me, is the master.  It’s her books that got me interested in young adult literature, and I’m SO PLEASED to find in a world where paranormal/dystopian/action/adventure/romance/fantasy books reign supreme, that we still have authors like Shelley Coriell who can approach contemporary young adult with so much heart. 

This book isn’t as simple as “completing the bucket list of a dead girl” it’s about a girl discovering who she is.  Similar with Chloe (the protagonist in Coriell’s previous novel) I wasn’t a huge fan of Rebecca “Rebel” Blue.  She was self-centered and rude to the people around her, and pushes people away unnecessarily.  But then I remember high school, and what it’s like to be a teenager, and how nothing feels more real then when you’re seventeen.  Coriell perfectly captures what it’s like to grow up with a deep desire to be yourself even when it seems like everyone is telling you to join the crowd.  I loved the fact that Rebel was a true blue loner, and embraced this.  I think there are a lot of people in the world who embrace the loneliness.

I also loved how crafted this story was.  There aren’t a lot of YA novels where I finish them and feel like the author is a master of their craft (though admittedly there have been more than usual lately).  I feel like Coriell, however, is a master of hers.  The pacing in this book is wonderful and real.  There isn’t any insta-love or instant character changes, I never felt betrayed by the author trying to speed through “boring” bits quickly to get to the “actual” story.  Rebel goes on a journey, and we as a reader take it with her. 

The thing I love about contemporary young adult fiction is the journey you take with the characters through a world real and true.  I adored how Coriell approached the family in this novel, lately YA novels seem to steer clear of any type of family life, but the family portrayed in Goodbye, Rebel Blue though not perfect, was heartbreakingly honest.  The characterizations in Goodbye, Rebel Blue are also what made this novel completely engrossing for me.  The issues Rebel is having, and the issues of the other teens in this novel are sophisticated and real.  Some of the conversations – especially between Pen and Rebel and Macey and Rebel – felt verbatim to conversations I had with friends in high school.  Shelley Coriell is able to perfectly capture the journey a person takes when they start to question and discover who they are at a young age.  Not only that, this character didn’t change completely – by the end of the novel she is still Rebel Blue, a completely unique and lovable character in a completely fantastic book.  I definitely would recommend this to any fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson.

Endnote: this novel reminded me more (atmospherically) of Amy and Roger's Epic Detour (Morgan Matson), Paper Towns (John Green) and any Sarah Dessen novel than it did of Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher) like it says in the blurb - though admittedly the basic concepts of this novel and Asher's are the same.

This reviewer would like to thank NetGalley and Amulet books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent # 1

Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Released: 3 May 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review:  I resisted Divergent.  I resisted it hardcore, mainly because there was SO much hype surrounding it, and every one was gushing about it (or so it seemed).  Then I saw it on sale at the bookstore for $4, and I decided to pick it up.  Then it sat on my shelf for a few weeks before I finally cracked it open.  Problem is, I didn’t set it down until it was over and I was driving around trying to find a 24-Hour grocer with a copy of Insurgent to get my paws on. 

I’m sure you’re all wondering: what was it about Divergent that made it so great?  The answer is a hard one, is it the world building? Yes, definitely.  I loved the idea of breaking people into different factions and suppressing base human desires. Is it the genre? Yes and No.  Although Divergent is truly dystopian, I felt like Roth brought a sense of reality, and hope to this world that I haven’t felt in other dystopian societies.  Although the permanent sense of dread remains, the way in which Tris is constantly fighting with herself, and coming to terms with her beliefs, and who she thinks she is, who she thinks she could be, makes this story, for me, not only dystopian, but more dominantly coming of age than any dystopian I have read before.

Roth is able to, not only capture what it’s like to be 16, the age where you’re starting to think like an adult with the actions of a child; and you’re trying to discover who you are exactly.  She also fully embraces the world she’s created.  I never got the sense Roth feared her version of Chicago, more like she reveled in it.  She loved the different factions she had created, she thrived on their simplicity, and in turn passed that on to her readers.  The lynchpin for me, however, was when Tris is unable to imagine a world not like the one she inhabits.  From a reader standpoint you think, “well it would be just like right now” but Roth is so invested, that although the world is ours (Chicago), her characters have no recollection of it whatsoever, and the thought of living like we do now is terrifying.  Where most YA Dystopian novels are trying to create a world similar to ours, Roth’s world fears our society as the unknown.

Finally, the characters.  I love strong female characters, and Tris and Christina fit the bill superbly.  I loved the constant battle within Tris, figuring out who she was.  The same can be said for Four.  Four was just . . . an incredible character to read.  Not only because of what he is on-page, but because you know there is more to Four off-page.  Whenever he’s not with Tris I found myself thinking: “wonder what Four’s doing.  Where’d that guy go.”

Divergent grabs you, and sucks you into its world so fully that it’s hard to come back out the other end unchanged.  Isn’t that kind of the point of books though?  To change the way you view the world, to give it color, and life, and sound? Divergent does that.

Froi of the Exiles

Author: Melina Marchetta 
Series: The Chronicles of Lumatere # 2

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Adult

Publisher: Viking Australia

Released: 3 October 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes...
Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.
And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.
Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son.

My Review: Froi of the Exiles, as I said in my Finnikin review was one of my favorite fantasy novels.  Yes, it is high fantasy, no I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but even if I did, I’m pretty sure Froi would be at the top of my “I love it” list.  Froi is such a deliciously tortured character that I could not get enough.  I couldn’t believe that the annoying little thief from Finnikin grew into such an amazing multi-dimensional character.  And don’t even get me started on Quintana.  Now, I’ll admit after reading some reviews I was a little nervous about the heavy subject material, and the fact that Quintana is half-mad definitely did NOT add to the “I’m enticing! read-me” factor of this novel, but it is Marchetta, and I am weak.   I will admit that Quintana took a LOT of getting used too, I think it was the first time in reading a novel where I was kind of afraid of the character.  I mean, it’s hard to be afraid of villains because they’re so, well, villainous, but with characters that are pretty much crazy like Quintana, where you literally don’t know what they’ll do from paragraph to paragraph kind of freaked me out a little bit.

Not that she isn’t a fantastic well-rounded character, but that she was a little bit harder for me to understand than most of Marchetta’s characters, but slowly I grew pretty attached to her and her strange ways.  I loved the rock kingdom of Charyn and how well Froi fit in there, it was really fun to see him fall into place so easily somewhere, and I liked that Marchetta didn’t waste a ton of time explaining how much different Charyn was from Lumatere.  Obviously as a reader you KNOW they’re different, you know?  I mean, the names say it all.

The other thing that really trumped Finnikin in this one was the curse.  The curse in Froi was a lot more intricate, and, it seemed, more thought out, more detailed, just plain MORE.  I loved it.  I love that Marchetta took me on a ride with these characters, I enjoyed the pacing, I enjoyed the way that the characters acted with each other, and I loved all of the new characters that were introduced.  Not that I don’t love Sir Topher, Finnikin, Isaboe, and every one else in Lumatere, but it was nice to see both sides.  That is something I feel like Marchetta does exceptionally well (as in: I have never had another author be this captivating) she makes me want to read the entire thing, all the different points of view, and I never want to skip.  This is strange for me with multiple viewpoints peeps! I ALWAYS want to skip.  I ALWAYS identify with one character more than the other, but not with her for some reason.  I will warn you, Froi left me exhausted, like running a book-marathon, and I’ve actually taken a little breather before beginning Quintana.  I do feel like all three novels fit together wonderfully, and as far as the first “official” series from Marchetta this is definitely one of my favorites because it doesn’t read like a series, Marchetta has put thought into every word, into every plot twist, into every single bit of this novel.  Froi didn’t feel like a filler (thank heavens!).  I will give this review with one warning: If you were worried, or you felt like Finnikin was a little bit darker than you would have liked, do NOT read Froi.  Froi takes the darkness in Finnikin to an entirely new level.   The major themes and scenes in Froi are incredibly dark, and to be honest, although I was on the fence with Finnikin being a “Young Adult” book (somewhere between YA and Adult Fiction) Froi definitely falls into the “Adult Fiction” category.  There are a lot of mature elements and themes here, so consider yourself warned. (PS Froi reminds me a little bit of Tom Mackee…anyone else?)

Deadly Cool

Author: Gemma Halliday

Series: Deadly Cool # 1

Genres: Mystery, Contemporary, Young Adult

Publisher: HarperTeen

Released: 11 October 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.
But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

My Review: Deadly Cool was one of those books that I read in a weekend.  Mainly because I completely adored Hartley and the story line.  Hartley is the perfect main character, because although her motives aren’t always logical (trying to clear her cheating boyfriend’s name) her heart is in the right place.  But it wasn’t just Hart that made this story so sweet and lovely.

When I was younger I used to read stories like this all the time.  Stories that had a little bit of romance, a lot of humor, a pretty real parent, a fantastic best friend, and a fun leading lady.  Lately, I feel like the genre has lost a little bit of its fluffiness.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about it, but in a genre that is dominated by paranormal, dystopian, fantasies, or heavy contemporary fiction, Deadly Cool was a welcome breath of fresh air.  If you want a comparison, Hartley was like an older Sammy Keyes (from the Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Drannen), or a younger Heather Wells (from Meg Cabot’s Heater Well’s mysteries).  She is funny, kind of an amateur, and full of . . . well, heart.

Her best friend Sam adds in the perfect balance.  So many things that Sam says had me laughing out loud, Sam is the character in our reality while Hartley is kind of operating in her own (which is why this is so fun).  She has a healthy relationship with her boyfriend, but balances out having Hartley as a best friend perfectly.  The setting of Silicon Valley was another strength to this awesome story, and Hartley’s mom.  Wow, talk about a parent that was active without being overbearing or mean.  Everything about Hartley’s mom screams “I love my daughter” not “I’m suffocating my daughter” the love between Hartley and her mother was real, and honest.  It was refreshing to see such a good mother/daughter relationship.

And of course, you can’t forget the love interest that was not only incredible, but also pretty darn real.  I won’t expose too much, but let me just say that although this definitely was NOT a story based around the romance, there was still a little (key word: little) bit there that added to the immense grin that I had while reading this book.  Chase was just such a fun guy, he reminded me a little bit of a young Sam/Dean Winchester (from Supernatural) in the fact that he drives an old beater car and is kind of a bad a--. And he looks out for Hartley.  He doesn’t stalk her or stare at her while she sleeps, he is honestly concerned for her safety, he is like that really hot best friend you had in high school that you wanted to secretly hook up with. Seriously.  Although not much happens at all between Chase and Hartley, it was still fun to watch them figure each other out.

The strongest part of this novel for me was obviously the characterizations.  All of the characters are strong and well thought out, from the (not so) bumbling Detective, right down to the murderer.  I have to say, not many female characters in YA leave this kind of impression, to date there have been maybe three: Anna (from Anna and the French Kiss) Rory (from The Name of the Star) and now Hartley who I would seriously not mind having as a real live best friend.  I cannot wait to read Social Suicide, starting . . . now.