What Lies Within - James Morris

Goodreads summary:

“You’re going to die”

Shelley Marano is an ordinary, unexceptional high school senior…until the day she receives a cryptic text message, and her world tilts sideways. Now she’s in real danger, although she doesn’t know who would want her dead, or why. As she starts to unravel the mystery, the truth about who she really is proves to be more frightening than she ever imagined. With the lives of her and her friends hanging in the balance, one thing is certain:

Nothing will ever be the same.

Packed with suspense, What Lies Within is a page-turning, plot-driven rollercoaster ride that fans of Stephen King, James Patterson and Rick Yancey will be sure to enjoy.


My review:

3.5/5

First of all, I need to say that I have excuses to make to the author, James Morris, because I received this book ages ago and I promised that I would read and review really quickly, which I didn't do (I had to say it, I feel really bad about it).

I truly should have picked this book up earlier, because it made me realize that I could truly enjoy thrillers. I'm kind of scared of everything, so I usually pick up the least scary novels I can find, which excludes thrillers, obviously. When I started reading this, I got so lost in the story that I even forgot to feel scared. It's also not the scariest thriller, which I think helped me.

I really liked Shelley, the main character. She was easy to relate to and she became more and more interesting as the story progressed. I also liked her best friend, Winston, even though I wasn't sure if I liked their friendship as much as I liked them separately.

As for the plot, I won't even mention it, because it's something that I wasn't expecting at all and that no one would expect, in my opinion, so I'd rather not spoil anyone. I was pleasantly surprised, even though I believe the book could have had more elements and been longer.

I recommend this novel to anyone, because it made me question myself a lot and I opened up to this genre.

Hearts, Fingers and Other Things to Cross (Broken Hearts and Revenge #3) - Katie Finn

Goodreads summary:

WEATHER ALERT: SEVERE STORMS AHEAD

Gemma and Hallie's world has come to a screeching halt. Their parents are engaged, which makes them step-sisters. Nothing in the world could possibly be worse for Gemma and Hallie--they won't let it happen. Even if it means putting their own feud aside to separate their parents.

Events quickly escalate as a hurricane rips through the Hamptons leaving everyone (including Gemma's two exes, her current crush, best friend, and her nemesis) bottled up in one house. One big, miserable group of exes and enemies together allow secrets to unfold and plans to be plotted. The calm before this storm definitely doesn't exist.

Katie Finn pulls out all the stops for this fast-paced, dramatic conclusion in the Broken Hearts and Revenge series, Hearts, Fingers, and Other Things to Cross.


My review:

3/5

As the last book in a YA series, I think that this book was good, but not exceptional.

As childish as they can be, I liked reuniting with the characters, which are all funny and interesting. I think that some of them finally grew up, which was a bit of a relief, because the previous book, as well as the first half of this one, made me roll my eyes in exasperation at some things that the characters were doing or saying. It was nice to see them grow up as the series progressed.

I'm really happy that this book has a resolution for most of the issues encountered during the previous books. Overall, I don't feel like anything new happened; instead, I feel like everything I was more or less expecting happened, which was not a bad feeling. Some people made peace, some confessions were said and some relationships started or ended, but there wasn't any big finale, which was a bit disappointing, but not surprising, considering everything that needed to happen in such a short amount of pages. It wasn't too predictable, but I feel like it would be even better for younger readers.

I'm satisfied with the end of this series, so I'd definitely recommend it to younger (or even older) readers.

Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone Trilogy #2) - Kerstin Gier

Goodreads summary:

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

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


My review:

4/5

This is one of my favourite series, and it has been for a couple of years. It's at least my third time reading this particular book, so I feel like I've become some sort of expert on this subject - if I could be an expert in such a subject, obviously.

The first point I think is worth mentioning is the amazing narration. I've mentionned this when I was rereading the first book, but I don't the English translator does it justice. I have sadly not had the chance to read this series in its original language, because I simply don't speak it, but when I read it in French, I feel like the narration is smoother, lighter and therefore funnier. Gwyneth (or Gwendolyn in French - that's something I'll never get over, because why does the name of the main character change from one language to another?) is one of my all time favourite characters, because her internal dialogue is absolutely hilarious. This is caused by her amazing sense of humor, which can be quite dry at some moments, but also by the fact that she sees all kinds of ghosts and creatures that cannot be seen by other people, so her conversations with them are great.

My next point is definitely the characters, which are all extremely complex and well developped. Obviously, Gwyneth is fantastic, but her siblings are as well, just like her friends. Some people in her family are kind of horrible, but they're really well pictured anyways. I truly feel like they're real humans, which makes me love this story even more. Also, there's Gideon, which is absolutely swoon-worthy. Even when he's acting horribly, I can see why he's doing it, so I still love it with all my heart (and it almost hurts). He's one of my favourite love interests in books, to be honest.

This leads us to my next point, which is the romance. Oh, the romance! I absolutely love Gwyneth and Gideon together. They really haven't known each other for that long, which is a bit annoying in books, it doesn't feel like it to them, nor to me. I actually think that the whole story could have been stretched over a longer period, because it doesn't feel like the series takes place over two or three weeks (or something like that). Because it feels like they've known each other for longer than they actually have, the progression of their relationship is realistic and adorable. This book contains huge moments in their relationship, especially one that could seriously make you hate Gideon - I'm warning you so that you might hate him a little bit less, 'cause he's adorable.

Plotwise, I think this is the least interesting book in the series, because it doesn't have the interest of the first time travels. It's more or less the calm before the storm, because everything starts falling into place for the big finale (which I'm now really excited to read). I think that if we could see a bit of Lesley's perspective, it would be a lot more interesting, because she's the one doing all the research, while her best friend is lost in her Gideon contemplation - I don't even blame her, by the way. Sure, it's incredibly annoying, but Gideon does seem like the kind of guy who makes you lose all kinds of logic.


I would definitely recommend this book! However, after reading it at least four years later than the first time I read it, I think it's very clearly intended for younger audiences. That being said, it doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed by more mature readers!

Shuffle, Repeat - Jen Klein

Goodreads summary:

When Harry Met Sally for YA romance readers. This opposites-attract love story is perfect for fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick, Stephanie Perkins, and Jenny Han.

June wants high school to end and real life to begin. Oliver is soaking up senior year’s glory days. They could have coasted through high school, knowing about—but not really knowing—each other.

Except that their moms have arranged for Oliver to drive June to school. Every. Single. Day.

Suddenly these two opposites are fighting about music, life . . . pretty much everything. But love is unpredictable. When promises—and hearts—get broken, Oliver and June must figure out what really matters. And then fight for it.


My review:

4,5/5

If you guys didn't get to see my initial review for this book, you might not understand how much I loved it. It wasn't much, but let me tell you this: it was in all-caps, and I did restrain myself from using too many exclamation marks when I was typing it. The effort was there, but the results weren't.

At first, I wasn't sure if I would like this novel, because June seemed easy to judge and stuck up. The truth is that she is, but I started warming up to her as Oliver started to shake her inital opinions on high school and life in general. Then, I discovered that she's nice, funny and smart, which makes her a pretty good character, in the end. As for Oliver himself, I think he's pretty easy to like, because he seems a bit too perfect when you don't know him. When he opened up to June, I started liking him even more, because no one likes a perfect character. This is when things went downhill for me, because he became absolutely adorable to me and I didn't want anything more than to get him and June together.

Their relationship is really well written, especially when it comes to its pace. The fact that the story takes place over an entire school year makes their relationship realistic and even deeper, because they know each other pretty well after a year of carpool. I liked these moments between them, when they're talking about their lives, school or each other's bad music tastes. Although the playlist is a big part of this novel, I liked the fact that it didn't overpower the rest of the story, since it gets less important as the plot develops. It's a nice touch, especially since it's written at the end of the book, but there are so many more important things in this novel.

I liked June's group of friends, even though I don't think they are present enough in this novel. I wish we'd seen a bit more of everyone, because aside from Itch and Shaun, I don't feel like I know June's friends, so it's hard to understand their friendship.

When I became really invested in the story, June started acting like a big old idiot, which made me very, very, very mad. I almost didn't want to keep reading, but I knew (hoped) that things would get better, so I kept reading and I am very glad that I did. The fact that it made me feel so many emotions proves how much I enjoyed reading this book, which hasn't happened to me that often with books that aren't rereads this year. I was really happy about that! I hope this book truly takes me out of my reading slump, because even though I'm reading books these days, I don't feel as enthusiastic as I'd like to. Fingers crossed!

As you can imagine, I 100% recommend this book, because I think it's an amazing YA. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I did!

Picture Perfect (Geek Girl #3) - Holly Smale

Goodreads summary:

"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek."

It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series!

Harriet Manners knows more facts than most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon.

But she knows nothing about modelling in the Big Apple, and how her family will cope with life stateside. Or how to "become a brand", as the models in New York put it. And, even more importantly, what to do when the big romantic gestures aren't coming from your boyfriend...

Does geek girl go too far this time?

The laugh out loud follow-up to award winning GEEK GIRL and MODEL MISFIT will have you in stitches.

My review:

I honestly love this series! It's light-hearted, it's very funny and it's always interesting, even if it's for an audience younger than me. 

As a bookworm who's been called a nerd, a geek or any variation of those names, I can relate a lot to Harriet Manners, the main character of this novel. I just love her! She's so authentic and her biggest quality has to be the fact that she doesn't try to hide her nerdiness, no matter who she's talking to. This quality is challenged a lot in this particular novel, because she meets a lot of people who immediately judge her, which shakes Harriet up a little bit when she starts fearing that she might be alone in all of this. She makes bad decisions, but in the end, she stays true to herself, which I admire a lot.

Harriet's relationship with Nick isn't doing so well in this novel, since they don't really see each other and both of them start questioning it. I think it's realistic, especially since they have just had their little honeymoon. I love how they still trust and love each other, no matter what. They're young, but their relationship kind of feels like they're older than they actually are. Also, Nick is ADORABLE. His thoughtfullness is really touching and he sounds like my dream guy, from everything I've read about him. I wish we'd seen a bit more of him in this novel, though, but I could never get enough of him anyways!

A big part of this novel is about Harriet's loneliness when she is away from her friends and her boyfriend. I could relate to her a lot, since I overthink like her, so this was a bit harder to read, since it's not as lighthearted as the rest of the series. This gave the series a more mature turn, since it's so different from the cute and funny scenes.

Overall, I really liked this book. I can't wait to get my hands on the fourth of the series, even though my library doesn't have it yet. WHAAAT?!

What You Always Wanted (If Only... #8) - Kristin Rae

Goodreads summary:

If only…he was the boy she’s been dreaming of.

Theatre girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she’s struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family—but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theatre’s dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball—not dance—is Jesse’s passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?

This fun, high school theatre romance in the If Only line is for anyone who has ever wished for that impossibly perfect guy.


My review:

4/5

What an amazing YA! I've read a good amount of books from that genre by now, but some of them still truly impress me, and this novel was one of those!

The first aspect of this book that charmed me was the fact that it's so easy to relate to, especially for bookworms. In this novel, Maddie has extremely high standards because of all the movies she's seen, which all have perfect gentlemen in them. Is anyone here familiar with this? I am, but because of books. Since I can relate to Maddie very much when it comes to relationships, I learned quite a few pieces of advice from this novel.

I also loved the importance of theatre in this novel, since I'm a sucker for quirky hobbies and characters who are passionate about them. I actually don't know anything about acting, musicals or classic movies, but it was very interesting to learn about all of them, especially since Maddie has such big dreams created around them. If anything, I think there could have been a bigger place for Maddie's passion of acting in this novel, because it really gives the book a different style than most YAs.

A big part of the novel is centered around Maddie's relationship with Jesse - who is absolutely swoon-worthy, by the way, whether you like dancers or not. I loved how they grow closer and closer as time flies, because it's much more realistic than love at first sight. Their relationship suffers from Maddie's high standards and prejudices, but I have to admit that I shared her opinion more than once, maybe because we're a bit similar. I was very pleased with the ending, even though I didn't expect it to end that way.

Obviously, this book isn't perfect, but as far as YA novels go, I'd say that it's a pretty good one. Highly recommended!

Summer in the Invisible City - Juliana Romano

Goodreads summary:

A sparkling coming-of-age story about self-discovery, first love, and the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Bell has this summer all figured out: She’s going to befriend the cool girls at her school. She’s going to bond with her absentee father, a famous artist, and impress him with her photography skills. And she’s finally going to get over Noah, the swoony older guy who was her very first mistake.

Sadie wasn’t counting on meeting Sam, a funny and free-thinking boy who makes her question all of her goals. But even after a summer of talking, touching, and sharing secrets, Sam says he just wants to be friends. And when those Sadie cares about most hurt her, Sam’s friendship may not be enough. Sadie can see the world through her camera, but can she see the people who have loved and supported her all along?

Set against a glamorous New York City backdrop, this coming-of-age romance is a gorgeous summer read—one whose characters will stay with you long into the fall.


My review:

3/5

I've been interested by this book from the second I read its summary - it's the reason why I immediately bought it and started reading it, which almost never happens to me. I'd say that the three main reasons why I was so attracted to this novel were the city where it's set, NYC, the main character's passion, photography, and the romance aspect.

I was a bit disappointed about the setting of this novel, because I feel like it lacks descriptions. I couldn't imagine where the characters live and I really wish I could've, because I've never been to New York and it intrigues me a lot. Also, since Sadie's into photography, I feel like a book about her should have been a bit more focused on her surroundings and the little details around her.

On the other hand, I loved everything about photography. Passionate people really inspire me, so I love reading about them, whether they're real or not. Sadie is a character with a fantastic passion and I think that this book shows it really well. There are loads of descriptions about the photography process and her inspiration, which I loved. I'm not that much into taking pictures, but I am an artistic person and I can recognize beauty and inspiration, so I loved learning about such a passion.

The romance aspect of this novel isn't that big, but it's definitely cute. I love that Sam and Sadie appreciate each other for who they truly are, because it's something that doesn't seem that easy for Sadie. They've only known each other for a few days or weeks, but their chemistry is real and it's amazing.

There's one aspect of this novel that I hadn't really been expecting, or at least not in this proportion, and it's the one about finding yourself, I guess. For the biggest part of the story, Sadie idolizes people, from her classmates to her father, which leads to very bad decisions. As the story progresses, she starts realizing that everyone's pretty much the same, including her, which makes her feel a bit more confident, especially about photography. It's an interesting aspect, because I can definitely relate to that, and I think that a lot of people could as well.

The story didn't develop the way I expected it to, which I'm not sure if I liked, but overall, I'd recommend it.

This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

Goodreads summary:

A collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends will help to tell Esther’s story along with an introduction by award-winning author John Green who dedicated his #1 bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars to her.

My review:

5/5

Dear Esther,

I do not know you, and you certainly don't know me. I mean, I was born four years later than you were and during all our lives, we've been separated by miles and miles, even by borders. I wasn't part of Nerdfighteria when you were and I don't even know if I had a Facebook account when you were still alive, let alone a Youtube account. However, your story touched me so, so, so much. 

Life is unfair, we all know it. Some of us, like me, have been blessed enough to have a relatively easy life so far and to only see illnesses and death from a very far away perspective. However, reading your journals, watching your videos, and hearing people talk about you has made me realize how unfair your life was. How could a person so radiant, so cheerful and so smart like you have to go such hard times? I know from your own words that you became okay with the fact that you had cancer and that your faith has helped you a lot with that. This is a truly fantastic thing, especially from the point of view of an atheist like me. I have always envied people who belong to a religion, because I can imagine how much easier it can be to think that everything happens for a reason. This book proved my thoughts, because you made it sound so easy.

I loved the person you were, or at least the idea I got of the person you were. I know that I could never get to know you as much as I want to, because I've only seen a glimpse of the person you were, but I do know that everyone around you was lucky to have you. I don't know what you would think of people like me, who read your book, your journal, even, watch your videos, hear your friends talking about you and end up loving you. I hope you'd like it, because everyone has described you as a 'welcomer', a loving person who accepted everyone. I love that about you. That's the way more people should be. In a way, you're a bit like how everyone should be:  caring, passionate, intelligent, confident. I'm not saying you were perfect, but I do think you were an awesome person. 

My thoughts go to your friends, your family, your cats. As weird as it must be for them to see you become some sort of celebrity, I hope they accept the support we are willing to give them, because your book has truly made my eyes open. From Heaven (because I know that's where you are, even though I am in no way religious), I hope that you're happy that your cause has brought so many of us together to make the world a better place to live in, even though you will never have this chance again and it's breaking my heart. Don't forget to be awesome, Esther, while we'll never forget how bright a star you were.

Jane Blond International Spy - Brianna and Stan Schatt

Goodreads summary:

Fourteen year-old Jane Blond thought getting through high school was difficult enough with her dad in prison and her mother dating. Throw in being bullied by the popular girl who has everything, and it’s completely unbearable. But when terrorists kidnap a boy she cares about, she knows she is the only one who can save him. Jane must rely on her courage and cunning as well as on a computer genius, a teen with Asperger’s, and a parrot with an attitude.


My review:

3/5

I was expecting more from this book, but I was just not able to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to... I thought the summary sounded great and I wanted to read about a younger character thrown in a crazy situation. It didn't quite meet up to my expectations.

The first negative point I found was the fact that the writing style is quite confusing. The verb tenses keep changing, which I found annoying, as someone who's a tiny bit obsessed with grammar and writing in general. I was able to look past that, though, but I never really got to connect with the characters during my time reading. I think it's because the writing felt a bit choppy to me (but it might just be me, because I've read great reviews of this novel), but I guess it was just not the book for me. I'm older than the characters, so it's no surprise that I found some of them a bit whiny and immature, but some books still manage to make their younger characters relatable for me, so I was hoping this would be one of those,

I think this book does have promise - my younger self would probably have loved it, it seems like the writing works with a lot of readers, and the whole idea behind it is great (honestly, I love the summary because characters with similar names to famous people are so funny to me). 

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan

Goodreads summary:

Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine.

It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old - including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire - Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical.


My review:

5/5

One of my favorite John Green/David Levithan books. It's amazing.

For some reason, I waited a long time before I started reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson. However, once I started, I couldn't stop. It's so good! Honestly, if you haven't read it yet, please pick it up.

Having read novels from both authors, I was expecting a sweet love story between interesting people. I only knew a bit about the story, which I mainly learned from the title, but I was happy with only knowing that. In the end, it is simply a novel about two guys with the same name, but there's so much happening that it's an absolutely lovely story. 

Obviously, the writing styles are beautiful. I knew it'd be that way, since I've read many novels from both authors. I liked how different Will and Will are and how it's shown in the writing styles. I was a bit confused by the lack of capitalization in one of their parts, but only because I didn't always realize when a word was actually a name. Despite having the same name, I wasn't confused by the main characters, because they're both incredibly different and amazing.

My favorite part about this novel is probably the characters, because they all have something interesting about them. I absolutely loved Tiny Cooper, because he's loving, lovable and so incredibly funny and happy. He's probably my favorite character. Both Wills are interesting in their own ways, one because he keeps trying to protect and degrade. himself and the other because he craves love so much. I really enjoyed seeing them interact together, because they get along really well, even though having the same name is one of the only things they have in common. My only complaint is that while I liked Jane, I thought she was a bit too perfect. She's smart, beautiful and her only fault seemed to be having a boyfriend, which isn't exactly one. It didn't have much of an impact on me, but I still wished I could've seen a bit more of a realistic personality. 

I liked how friendship became important in the story. I think the book starts with one of the Wills (reading about them wasn't confusing, but writing about them is) talking about how he didn't choose his friend Tiny, which I thought was quite rude, but I was happy to see him realize how important this friendship is to him. Also, the other Will finally made some friends, which was a relief to me, because I don't wish to see anyone go through life without friends. 

Although there is romance in this novel, it didn't feel like the most important thing at all. Dealing with relationships would probably be a more accurate topic, because there's a lot about that. I think it was done realistically and it adds a nice touch to the story, without being overwhelming. 

Reading about all the characters made me really happy and I loved the ending. I almost wish this book had been longer, because there's so much more I would like to know about the characters. 

I very highly recommend this novel.

My Kind of Crazy - Robin Reul

Goodreads summary:

Despite the best of intentions, seventeen-year old, wisecracking Hank Kirby can’t quite seem to catch a break. It’s not that he means to screw things up all the time, it just happens. A lot. Case in point: his attempt to ask out the girl he likes literally goes up in flames when he spells “Prom” in sparklers on her lawn…and nearly burns down her house. 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Peyton Breedlove, a brooding loner and budding pyromaniac, witnesses the whole thing. Much to Hank’s dismay, Peyton takes an interest in him—and his “work.” The two are thrust into an unusual friendship, but their boundaries are tested when Hank learns that Peyton is hiding some dark secrets, secrets that may change everything he thought he knew about Peyton.


My review:

4/5

Talk about a successful read! This was a fun, surprising and interesting book that made me forget all about the real world while I was lost in its universe.

The first thing I noticed about it was how realistic and authentic it was. Instead of reading about an attractive and popular character who's lucky in life, we discover a boy who lives a bit like an outcast, talking to a few people and trying to be unseen by his father most of the time. He doesn't have much luck at all, especially when the only time he's trying to be noticed by someone, a girl he wants to go to prom with, he sets her lawn on fire. I thought it was quite funny, but I could also relate a lot, because who hasn't tried to do something unexpected and ended up ruining it entirely? Hank's reaction was also realistic, which made me like him immediatly. While I can't really say this about everyone in this book, he never pretended to be anyone else and seemed to accept who he was more than most teenagers I know, which I appreciated even more, since his authenticity and sincerity made him easy to seize. 

I know this novel might sound like your typical funny, quirky and cute YA story, it's far from that. It deals with a lot of issues, like mental health, but also ones that we all experience, like lack of communication with relatives or stereotypes. It was very well done and I learned a lot from it. I loved how there was never a "bad guy" in the end, because misunderstandings happen more frequently than we think and it's more realistic like that. I was happily surprised by the absence of the typical cheerleader/jock who's a bully but everyone seems to love anyways (I don't know about you, but while tons of YA novels have these characters, I've never met such stereotypical people), because it seems like all the characters in this book are more than they appear to be (just like most human beings).

I had a really nice time reading this book and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a lot of people!

(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Blood, Ink & Fire - Ashley Mansour

Goodreads summary:

Imagine a world without books…
In the future, books are a distant memory. The written word has been replaced by an ever-present stream of images known as Verity. In the controlling dominion of the United Vales of Fell, reading is obsolete and forbidden, and readers themselves do not—cannot—exist.
But where others see images in the stream, teenager Noelle Hartley sees words. She’s obsessed with what they mean, where they came from, and why they found her.

Noelle’s been keeping her dangerous fixation with words a secret, but on the night before her seventeenth birthday, a rare interruption in the stream leads her to a mysterious volume linked to an underworld of rebel book lovers known as the Nine of the Rising. With the help of the Risers and the beguiling boy Ledger, Noelle discovers that the words within her are precious clues to the books of the earlier time—and as a child of their bookless age, she might be the world’s last hope of bringing them back.

Blood, Ink & Fire is a gripping, evocative tale that asks, who would we be without books?


My review:

3/5

This book made me shiver only by reading its summary. As someone who reads every day except for a few day-long reading slumps, I can't even imagine not being able to read. I knew I had to read this book to see what it could be like.

While the part about not being able to read was clear, the rest of this universe was pretty vague. I couldn't get an idea of what the world looked like, how it's ruled or how life in general is. We only see a day in Noelle's normal life before she's thrown into this big adventure to take Fell down, which doesn't let us really see what it's like to live with Verity, the program that watches them and tells them what to do and when to do it. I know we learn what immersion does to the population, but I couldn't really understand how Valers agreed to do it, because it didn't seem like it was really explained to them. Also, many things are different from our society, but I can't really see the explanation behind them, because they don't seem like improvement to me. I wish I had been able to learn more about this interesting world, because it looked like a poor imitation of The Giver's to me (sorry, but I had to say it).

There were a few characters that I really liked, like John, but I feel like we should've seen more of them. I think the big problem here is the fact that it starts pretty much into the action of this story instead of showing a bit more normalcy before truly beginning. This also made it hard for me to believe that Noelle would leave her house like she does after receiving John's gift in the very beginnning, because the instructions it contained weren't really clear to me and I would never expect someone who lives in a world strict like hers to do everything she does in order to meet her friend for an unknown reason. It was very brave of her, since she risked pretty much everything when she did that, but I think there should've been more of a build-up leading to that.


I loved many parts about books and "boolos", which is the word used to refer to book lovers. It's the whole reason why I read this book, so I hoped there would be some and I was glad to discover a couple of them. Noelle's ability to read was fun to read about, especially when she first started reading, because it impacted her a lot and she loved it from the very beginning. In that way, I could see a lot of myself in her.

Many readers could find an amazing book in this, because it certainly has great ideas. It might not sound like it in this review, but I actually had a nice time reading it, so I would recommend it to people who aren't too picky about world building in dystopian novels.

(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

The Boyfriend League - Rachel Hawthorne

Goodreads summary:

The Ragland Rattlers

$1 Night

$1 baseball cap with home team logo
$1 program
$1 hot dogs
$1 drinks
$1 popcorn

But how much to get the hot pitcher to notice you exist?

My review:

3/5

Sooooo cute! I still don't understand a thing about baseball, but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a lost cause.

This is a really fun and nice book to relax yourself. I loved the characters, their chemistry, their passion for baseball and the interesting plot. While I must say I didn'f really like the idea that started the story, which was to find a boyfriend for Dani and her best friend, I liked seeing their characters develop and realize that their initial plan had some flaws. They started as kind of superficial, since all they cared about was having a boyfriend, no matter who he was, but actually getting one made them grow a lot and I enjoyed reading about them. There's also development when it comes to Dani's family, since she sees her sister as a superficial beauty pageant when the story begins, but she realizes there's a depth in her she had never suspected.

I've seen this many times, but I love reading about passionate characters. Whether it's about music, literature, arts, sports or maths, I'm often inspired by passionate people. I loved reading a baseball themed book, even though I could never share this passion, but I must admit I wish I had seen a bit more of this passion in Dani. While she talks about how she has baseball posters in her room and how she used to play with her dad, it all seems to stop when she starts thinking about having a boyfriend, because all she can think about then are beautiful abs, arms and faces. I know she's a fan of the sport, but I don't think it's well represented.

I thought Dani and Jason's relationship was adorable. It's very realistic and I could see their chemistry pretty much from the beginning. I love that they have so many things to talk about and that they care a lot about each other ever since they met. I do wish their relationship had been a bit less parent-friendly, because although it was the best thing to do, it felt a bit too perfect for me (parents-wise) and it left me kind of frustrated (which is the big deal, haha!).

I had a really nice time reading this book and I'm definitely still a fan of Rachel Hawthorne!

Something Real (Something Real #1) - Heather Demetrios

Goodreads summary:

There’s nothing real about reality TV.

Seventeen-year-old Bonnie™ Baker has grown up on TV—she and her twelve siblings are the stars of one-time hit reality show Baker’s Dozen. Since the show’s cancellation and the scandal surrounding it, Bonnie™ has tried to live a normal life, under the radar and out of the spotlight. But it’s about to fall apart…because Baker’s Dozen is going back on the air. Bonnie™’s mom and the show’s producers won’t let her quit and soon the life she has so carefully built for herself, with real friends (and maybe even a real boyfriend), is in danger of being destroyed by the show. Bonnie™ needs to do something drastic if her life is ever going to be her own—even if it means being more exposed than ever before.

My review:

4.5/5

4.5/5 Well, let's just say it was really stupid to wait so long before reading it. I'd avoided reading despite loving Heather Demetrios's other novel, I'll Meet You There, because I don't really like reading about celebrities. Authenticity is one of the qualities I value the most, so I was afraid I would be faced with characters that didn't have any, but I couldn't have been more wrong. While I can't say that with Chloe's mom and her stepfather, the rest of the family and their friends were some 4.5/5 Well, let's just say it was really stupid to wait so long before reading it. I'd avoided reading despite loving Heather Demetrios's other novel, I'll Meet You There, because I don't really like reading about celebrities. Authenticity is one of the qualities I value the most, so I was afraid I would be faced with characters that didn't have any, but I couldn't have been more wrong. While I can't say that with Chloe's mom and her stepfather, the rest of the family and their friends were some of the most realistic and amazing characters I've read about. Some, such as Lexie, start off as superficial characters, but I realized later that it was just a way to protect themselves from the horrible life they're living. I sincerely love all of them and I'm going to start reading The Lexie Project right now to see more of them. I loved seeing Chloe grow. I loved her from the beginning, but it was evident that she had issues bigger than her anxiety and depression (which are both portrayed very realistically). She struggles to be brave and she has a tendency to run away from her problems, which she grows out of in this book. I absolutely loved her determination at the end of the book, which made her such a fierce and inspiring character. While it might sound crazy, there were times when I could really relate to her, even though I'm the farthest from being a celebrity you can be. I understood her and I despised so many character that this was probably an unheathly read for me, but I guess we all love to channel our anger into fictional characters once in a while. The only slight issue that I had with this book was the love aspect. While I loved Patrick's determination, his protection and his love for Choe, I struggled to seize him as a character. He was very confusing to me and although I loved him for how important he is to the main character, I couldn't like him as an individual. Since this isn't a love story, it's not that important in this book, but after loving the romance in I'll Meet You There, I couldn't help but be disappointed a little. I got much more out of this book than I expected, so I would absolutely recommend it to everyone. Don't wait so long like I did!

Lying Out Loud (The DUFF #2) - Kody Keplinger

Goodreads summary:

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go.

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with - secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross. Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand - a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually 'like' him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

My review:

4/5

OOOOOOOH I ACTUALLY LOVED THIS! I've been meaning to read this for a long time, but I never got around to it. I'm glad I finally did!

As someone who values authenticity and honesty, I knew this book could be something I either love or despise. I was seriously hoping that I wouldn't read about a shallow character who never improves, but I knew from The Duff that Kody Keplinger is great with character development, which is why I went into this book not too scared. I didn't really understand Sonny's lying habit at first, which annoyed me, but this book was so addicting that it didn't even matter to me. I'm glad that this whole crazy thing about pretending to be Amy when she's talking to Ryder online started out as an honest mistake, because I don't think I could've taken it if it had just been out if jealousy or a joke.

I loved Sonny and Ryder's banter. Their chemistry is evident and I loved seeing them realize they had been wrong about the other person. They're both interesting characters with an interesting (to say the least) relationship and I can see why they want to be together, unlike some YA novels. They both help each other out and it makes a major improvement on their lives. Since I loved their relationship so much, I found it hard to continue reading at some point, because I had no idea how it could end well and I was kind of terrified.

I broke down when I learned Sonny's story. I knew something huge must have happened to her to make her want to lie so much, but I never really knew what to expect. Her dad being in prison was already something big, but I didn't expect to be so affected by her story. I cried and cried and cried, but I think this part of the story might have been my favourite. I couldn't stop reading and I loved how Amy and Sonny tried to save their friendship. I had hated how Sonny had been treating her best friend, but I know for a fact that it made both of them grow up a lot and I loved them even more at the end of the story.

In this book, you won't find a perfect, lovable character with an amazing life, but sometimes, it's even better that way.

Dear November

Dear November,

You were quite a month. Every student has that horrible day/week/month when it gets to the end of the term and I can say I went through it quite victoriously, even though I struggled to stay awake (or alive) during many, many days. It was exhausting and my dark circles could prove it, but as I'm finishing my last essays and projects, I can't be happier to have more and more time to relax and finally sleep.

While everyone around me started decorating for Christmas, I couldn't help but feel out of it, which was incredibly weird for me, since I'm usually the first to start talking about Christmas. I guess finals put my mind somewhere else, but I really wish I could've started getting excited for the holidays sooner, because I'm not even sure if I'm in the Christmas spirit just yet, even though it's been December for a week. It's been lovely seeing all the Christmas lights, smelling all the spices and feeling cozy at night, though, so there is some good in this.

In November, I took the crazy decision to bring up my reading challenge to... 200! I didn't update it on Goodreads to feel less pressured, but it's been my goal for a few weeks now. It's absolutely insane, but with school almost done, I'm going to have much more time to read, so I'll do everything I can to read that many books.

I'm thankful for my friends' presence this month, because the distance that I felt growing between us completely disappeared. Since I went to college, I've started talking less and less to my best high school friends, which made me sadder than anyone could imagine. I'm always a bit paranoid, so I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought, but being together again made me realize how strong our friendship is. We did some crazy things over the last month, which made me go out of my comfort zone and it felt awesome. I feel like I finally started acting like a teenager, even though I'm almost too old to be one, but it's so exhilarating that I'm never going to regret it. As my group of friends is growing up, I think we're getting a bit more mature, but we can still have tons of fun and be as comfortable as ever together, so what else could I ask for? I'm feeling really lucky.

This month went by so quickly that it's hard to even realize it's over, but it's not a bad thing, now that it's over. I only hope that 2015 will end in a beautiful way and that December will bring me many wonderful things.

 

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Signs of Love (Series) - Melody James

Hi everyone! I'm doing a series review for once, because these books are so small that it was pointless to write huge reviews. If you think they look too childish, don't judge them too quickly! I personally loved this series so much that I finished it in less than a (busy) week, so I highly recommend it. It's perfect for readers looking for a light-hearted series and aspiring journalists, since it's the main character's dream, too. 

Signs of Love: Love Match (#1)

Goodreads summary:

For as long as 13-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the Green Park High student e-zine editorial team, she's given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'.


My review:

3/5

Ah, cute little books, what an amazing distraction you are. 

This book is sweetness times ten. It's adorable, funny and interesting, which is why I read it so quickly and decided to continue with the series. I'm not going to pretend it's the best book I've ever read, but it definitly is a nice distraction. It might be the book I read in the shortest amount of time this year, but it made it even better. If you're looking for a story to make you forget about school, work or life in general, this book would be amazing for you. Also, I love how it's about journalism, since that's what I'm studying right now.

Signs of Love: Stupid Cupid (#2)

Goodreads summary:

The path of true love never runs smoothly, and when Gemma is involved it can get exceedingly bumpy!

For as long as thirteen-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the editorial team on the Green Park High student web-zine, she is given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'. Not knowing the first thing about astrology, Gemma decides to make the most of her unexpected situation by using her new position to play Cupid with her friends, writing fictional forecasts to help their romantic dreams come true. But is Gemma to busy with her friends love lives to notice signs of love closer to home?

My review:

4/5

In this book, I feel like the romance started building up. While there were hints of it in the first book, this one had the confirmation that there was indeed some romance to be expected in the future, even though nothing really happened in it. If anything, this book made me desperately want to read the next one, because I knew I could expect more from it and I couldn't wait. It created an addiction (an innocent one, so it's alright), and I ended up going to the library the next day to find the next one... Pretending it was for my little sister (Sorry, Sis)! If I can get addicted to this at 18, I gess everyone can!

Signs of Love: Paris Crush (#3)

Goodreads summary:

The path of true love never runs smoothly, and when Gemma is involved it can get exceedingly bumpy! 
For as long as thirteen-year-old Gemma Stone can remember she has dreamed of becoming an award-winning journalist. Unfortunately, as the youngest member of the editorial team on the Green Park High student web-zine, she is given the job of writing the horoscopes, under the pen name 'Jessica Jupiter'. Not knowing the first thing about astrology, Gemma decides to make the most of her unexpected situation by using her new position to play Cupid with her friends, writing fictional forecasts to help their romantic dreams come true. But is Gemma to busy with her friends love lives to notice signs of love closer to home?

My review:

4/5

This book made me ache for the main characters. I could feel their emotions and all I wanted was to be thrown into the story to knock some sense into their heads. It was evident that the love story was bound to happen at some point, but it kept being pushed away and I hated it (in a somewhat good way). I ached to find some hints of the romance I knew there was and I probably felt way too much for such a book, but it was absolutely delightful. Also, I love the fact that it's in Paris, because I would LOVE to go there someday and seeing it through Gemma's eyes was really cool!

Signs of Love: Destiny Date (#4)

Goodreads summary:

It's the end of the school year and the prom is fast approaching. Gemma's friends all have dates and Gemma is destined to go alone. Gemma convinces herself that she doesn't care - it's great being single and free to mingle. But there's one boy who she secretly wishes would ask her - Sam. But Sam's dating Cindy - isn't he?
Meanwhile, when Gemma is asked to assist the school webzine's editor, Cindy, to review a top fashion show, Gemma somehow finds herself on the catwalk modelling for one of the nation's most talked-about designers. But strutting her stuff on the catwalk isn't exactly a breeze!
When the school invite Gemma's alter ego, astrologist "Jessica Jupiter", to be a guest speaker at the End of Year Assembly, Gemma has no choice but to agree. But Jessica's horrescopes have played cupid for half the school - if they discover she's not real then everything will be shattered. How will she dupe the entire school into believeing that Jessica Jupiter is for real?

My review:

5/5

Ahhhh, the end. I feel like everything that needed to happen finally happened in this, which made me very happy. I feel like the journalism part finally made its comeback and I couldn't have been happier, especially with the romance I had been waiting for so long (even though it only appeared so: I think I read this series in three days). I'm very glad with this finale and I would definitely recommend this series!

Somewhere in Between - Katie Li

Goodreads summary:

Two friends find a portal to another dimension and use this “in-between place” to avoid the stress of their everyday lives. What they don’t realize is that every time they enter, they alter reality. 

Pseudo-punk Magnolia and underachieving gamer-geek Rom are two unlikely friends who only hang out during their walks home together after school. When they find the a portal that leads to different worlds, they use the “in-between place” as an escape from their lives in high school, then later, after college. 

Their visits through the portal bring them teetering along a tight-rope of fantasy and reality, where they don't always believe what is in front of them, not even their feelings for each other. 

The book is about changes—the ones that you can control, and the ones that you can’t. It’s about commitment and friendship. It’s about the stages in between where you have nothing but the unknown ahead of you.

Inspired by the work of Haruki Murakami and films like Eternal Sunshine of A Spotless Mind, Somewhere In Between is metaphysical coming-of-age story about defining love and finding yourself.

My review:

3/5

There were parts that I loved, but I'm not sure I understood much of the story, which isn't that good.

I started this book loving the chemistry between the main characters. I loved their interactions and the moment when they found the "in-between" place was just perfect. It was a mixture of simple YA and fantasy that I loved and I was really excited to continue reading. It became fine when it was a few years later, but I found there weren't many details about their lives or their past, so the story was harder to understand. Then came the ending, which I'm still not sure about.

I think I would have loved this story a whole lot better if it had been longer. It's an incredibly short book, but since it lacked details, in my opinion, I think it could've used a couple more pages.

(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Torn Away - Jennifer Brown

Goodreads summary:

Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.

When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?

In this powerful and poignant novel, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown delivers a story of love, loss, hope, and survival.


My review:

4/5

I was NOT prepared for this. At all. 

Obviously, when you pick this book up, you know it won't be all rainbows and happiness. I mean, it is about a natural disaster, so this should warn you that you're entering dangerous zones. Well, believe me, this warning isn't even close to preparing you for what you're about to read, and I learned this the hard way. 

From the second the storm begins, Jersey's life turns to horror. She watches as her family destroys itself and leaves her all alone, without her friends to help, since they're all concerned by other issues and they're hard to reach. Having her house destroyed ends up being the least of her issues and not once in this book did I wish to be in her place. 

I was glad to see that she could find some comfort in all the hatred directed towards her, because she seemed to be the unluckiest person alive before. It was hard for me to understand how horrible people can be to someone who hasn't done a thing to deserve this, but realizing that there was still kindness in her life reassured me. 

The only thing I disliked in this novel was how cold Jersey's character was. Even though the story is written in her point of view, it's as though she's telling someone else's story, because it's quite matter-of-factly. I understand that it might be shock, but at some point, I felt like it would've worn off and I should've seen real emotion. It might also have been because of the translator, since I read it in French, but I don't believe it could've been the only reason. 

I would recommend this story, as draining as it is. If you can't sleep, read this and you'll sleep like a baby when you're done, because it's exhausting to read about such a hard life.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye - Cynthia Hand

Goodreads summary:

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go.


My review:

5/5

This. Book. *heart eyes* 

This story is absolutely heartbreaking. As an older sister, I've always been overprotective of my little sister, because I feel responsible of her and it seems like I should be the one protecting her and making sure she's happy. Because of that, I could try to imagine what Lex must be feeling and it was already too much for me to bear. Her situation is awful, just like her mother's, and I started this book already saddened by its story. 

This story focuses on Lex's grief and how she copes with her brother's death and I liked how honest and true she was about it. Her feelings are understandable and her distress made me feel really sad for her. I wish I could've helped her when she was at her worst, but I still thought she was doing well, given the circumstances. Her parents made me angry most of the time, because while she pushed her friends away, I don't think she would've pushed her mom away, had she made the move. Her relationship with her dad was trickier, because it deteriorated even before Tyler's suicide. Anyways, Lex's evolution as the story goes is amazing and gave me hope that there's always something better coming when you're having a hard time. 

I was impressed by how realistic Lex's character is. Her dreams, her personality and her reactions were easy to understand for me and, by the time I finished this book, I felt like I knew her pretty well. While it killed me to admit it, I could see why she had tried to get away from her friends and her boyfriend after her brother's suicide, so I couldn't blame her at all. I'm glad they were so kind to her and they kept trying to get her back, because that's the most amazing proof of loyalty I've ever seen and I can only hope that my friends would react that way if something made me push them away like Lex did. 

I really liked this book, as tragic as it is.