Goodreads summary:
In the tiny podunk town of Hawthorne, North Carolina, seventeen-year-old geeks Lula and Rory share everything—sci-fi and fantasy fandom, Friday night binge-watching of old X-Files episodes, and that feeling that they don’t quite fit in. Lula knows she and Rory have no secrets from each other; after all, he came out to her years ago, and she’s shared with him her “sacred texts”—the acting books her mother left behind after she walked out of Lula’s life. But then Lula discovers that Rory—her Rory, who maybe she’s secretly had feelings for—has not only tried out for the Hawthorne football team without telling her, but has also been having an affair with his middle-aged divorcee boss. With their friendship disrupted, Lula begins to question her identity and her own sexual orientation, and she runs away in the middle of the night on a journey to find her mother, who she hopes will have all the answers. Meagan Brother’s piercing prose in this fresh LGBT YA novel speaks to anyone who has ever felt unwanted and alone, and who struggles to find their place in an isolating world. Ages 14–up.
My review:
5/5
It was so good! I absolutely loved this book. Also, I really want to check out X-Files now, because it sounds really good and I'm unfortunately too young to have watched it before.
I really liked both of the characters, but especially Lula. She's funny, passionate, kind and always hopeful, which makes her a bit immature sometimes, like when she decided to leave, but also very realistic and interesting. I enjoyed seeing her interact with her wonderful grandparents, Walter and her friends. She seems to be liked by most people she meets and I wish I could've read even more about her. Her quest to meet her mom is childish, but it's also so easy to understand that I couldn't blame her for it. Her actions, as well as Rory's, made me cringe, especially in the beginning, with all these awkward moments on the night Lula left, but I could relate to both characters very well. I liked Rory, too, but I found it harder to understand him, especially since a lot of the story is about Lula. I loved their friendship and their friday nights, because they both care so much about one TV show and it's amazing.
Although I found it confusing at first, I really liked the way it's written. I wasn't expecting it to be that way, but I enjoyed understanding what happened before, after and now. It kept me wondering what would happen next, in the past or in the present. I thought the book would be about finding Lula, but seeing her after she's back was even better than what I expected.
I found the story to be very accurate and easy to relate to. The main characters are young adults confused with their lives and desperate for love, as most teenagers are. Their expectations and hopes are understandable and similar to mine, which made me feel them at the same time. I liked how their lives change during the story, but only for the better. Rory and Lula's friendship is affected by everything that happened between them, but as true friends do, they manage to keep their complicity and work everything out. I didn't expect everything to be that way in the end, but I was truly satisfied with everything.
I highly recommend this novel! It's realistic, fun and passionate, which is perfect for young adults.
(Thank you Edelweiss for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
mardi 6 octobre 2015
vendredi 2 octobre 2015
Extraordinary Means - Robyn Schneider
Goodreads summary:
From the author of The Beginning of Everything: two teens with a deadly disease fall in love on the brink of a cure.
At seventeen, overachieving Lane finds himself at Latham House, a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strain of tuberculosis. Part hospital and part boarding school, Latham is a place of endless rules and confusing rituals, where it's easier to fail breakfast than it is to flunk French.
There, Lane encounters a girl he knew years ago. Instead of the shy loner he remembers, Sadie has transformed. At Latham, she is sarcastic, fearless, and utterly compelling. Her friends, a group of eccentric troublemakers, fascinate Lane, who has never stepped out of bounds his whole life. And as he gradually becomes one of them, Sadie shows him their secrets: how to steal internet, how to sneak into town, and how to disable the med sensors they must wear at all times.
But there are consequences to having secrets, particularly at Latham House. And as Lane and Sadie begin to fall in love and their group begins to fall sicker, their insular world threatens to come crashing down.
Told in alternating points of view, Extraordinary Means is a darkly funny story about doomed friendships, first love, and the rare miracle of second chances.
My review:
5/5
AWWW MAN THAT WAS SAD!!! But I loved it.
I was instantly attracted to the illness part of this book, which sounded really interesting and futuristic to me (even though I know it isn't). It's scary, but I like to think about living such a sad life and being in this world, as similar as it is to ours, except for the illness. The sadness of these kids' destiny hit me really hard, with all the similarities to summer camp that their quarantine camp has. Comparing to opposite things like that makes the whole situation even more weird, desperate and tragic, which is why I could basically not sleep until I finished this book.
Although it wasn't the most important point in this novel for me, I really liked the romance in this book. I loved how Sadie and Lane pretty much always liked each other, which sounds very fairy-tale-like to me (I'm aware that it's pretty much the opposite). Their love provided them with comfort when they needed it the most, which is one of the reasons why their relationship worked so well, in my opinion. Their late-night phone calls are the most adorable thing ever, especially to me, who's basically a phone calls lover. It sounds really romantic and if a guy ever did that with me, you can be assured he'd be the one I'd want to marry.
I think the most important theme in this book is probably growing up, in general. Lane represents those of us who live for good grades and won't have a moment to rest until we've done everything we could to succeed, which is really useless if you want to have a happy life, like Lane realized. This character development is amazing, because he went from someone who'd die instead of not applying to college to someone who spends hours on the phone with his girlfriend instead of studying. Also, making good friends and sticking with them is another lesson learned by Lane and the new friends he makes, especially for them, who never know when their last day might be. This tragic way to live reinforced their friendships, in my opinion, because they were forced to see how much their friends matter to them and spend as much quality time as they can. It's a nice philosophy, even though it's created by a sad situation.
I pretty much enjoyed everything in this book, so I'd highly recommend it.
From the author of The Beginning of Everything: two teens with a deadly disease fall in love on the brink of a cure.
At seventeen, overachieving Lane finds himself at Latham House, a sanatorium for teens suffering from an incurable strain of tuberculosis. Part hospital and part boarding school, Latham is a place of endless rules and confusing rituals, where it's easier to fail breakfast than it is to flunk French.
There, Lane encounters a girl he knew years ago. Instead of the shy loner he remembers, Sadie has transformed. At Latham, she is sarcastic, fearless, and utterly compelling. Her friends, a group of eccentric troublemakers, fascinate Lane, who has never stepped out of bounds his whole life. And as he gradually becomes one of them, Sadie shows him their secrets: how to steal internet, how to sneak into town, and how to disable the med sensors they must wear at all times.
But there are consequences to having secrets, particularly at Latham House. And as Lane and Sadie begin to fall in love and their group begins to fall sicker, their insular world threatens to come crashing down.
Told in alternating points of view, Extraordinary Means is a darkly funny story about doomed friendships, first love, and the rare miracle of second chances.
My review:
5/5
AWWW MAN THAT WAS SAD!!! But I loved it.
I was instantly attracted to the illness part of this book, which sounded really interesting and futuristic to me (even though I know it isn't). It's scary, but I like to think about living such a sad life and being in this world, as similar as it is to ours, except for the illness. The sadness of these kids' destiny hit me really hard, with all the similarities to summer camp that their quarantine camp has. Comparing to opposite things like that makes the whole situation even more weird, desperate and tragic, which is why I could basically not sleep until I finished this book.
Although it wasn't the most important point in this novel for me, I really liked the romance in this book. I loved how Sadie and Lane pretty much always liked each other, which sounds very fairy-tale-like to me (I'm aware that it's pretty much the opposite). Their love provided them with comfort when they needed it the most, which is one of the reasons why their relationship worked so well, in my opinion. Their late-night phone calls are the most adorable thing ever, especially to me, who's basically a phone calls lover. It sounds really romantic and if a guy ever did that with me, you can be assured he'd be the one I'd want to marry.
I think the most important theme in this book is probably growing up, in general. Lane represents those of us who live for good grades and won't have a moment to rest until we've done everything we could to succeed, which is really useless if you want to have a happy life, like Lane realized. This character development is amazing, because he went from someone who'd die instead of not applying to college to someone who spends hours on the phone with his girlfriend instead of studying. Also, making good friends and sticking with them is another lesson learned by Lane and the new friends he makes, especially for them, who never know when their last day might be. This tragic way to live reinforced their friendships, in my opinion, because they were forced to see how much their friends matter to them and spend as much quality time as they can. It's a nice philosophy, even though it's created by a sad situation.
I pretty much enjoyed everything in this book, so I'd highly recommend it.
jeudi 1 octobre 2015
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli
Goodreads summary:
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.
My review:
4/5
HOW CUTE!!! Seriously, this novel might be the cutest I read in a very long time. It's not even the kind of cuteness that's strictly about romance, because I swear, everything in this book is cute. Just, ahhh. Wow.
I must admit, I thought this book was similar to Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Not only because they're both about homosexual relationships, but simply because they have many details in common and the feeling I had while reading them was very similar. I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so it isn't really a complain, although it's a bit sad to read this book after having read another that's so much alike.
That being said, I have to say that everything else in this book is amazing. I thought the plot was really good, because even though it's a normal guy's life and not much happens in it, there's actually mystery in it and it kept me interested through the entire story. I discovered who Blue is pretty soon, but I wasn't entirely sure, so it was really nice to guess with all the little clues. I really liked their relationship and how everything evolves between them, because it's really not usual, but it's still adorable and honest.
Simon's friends are incredible, in my opinion, because they're so nice and comprehensive. Their reactions felt sincere to me and I can honestly say I would love to have them as friends. As someone who has an amazing gay friend, I loved seeing more about what it's like to come out to your friends and family, because you can only get that when you're in someone's perspective, not really in a conversation.
Bullying is part of this book, which I thought was realistic, as sad as it is. I know homosexuality isn't always well seen in our society, but I thought Simon and his friends handle it really well (better than me, to be honest, who felt like crying and wanted to beat some people up). I think it shows well how it is to be in high school, whether you're gay or not, because bullying is horrible and while we all know it shouldn't even exist, it still does.
I really liked reading this novel, because it's really cute and light-hearted. I read it pretty fast and I would do it over again!
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.
My review:
4/5
HOW CUTE!!! Seriously, this novel might be the cutest I read in a very long time. It's not even the kind of cuteness that's strictly about romance, because I swear, everything in this book is cute. Just, ahhh. Wow.
I must admit, I thought this book was similar to Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Not only because they're both about homosexual relationships, but simply because they have many details in common and the feeling I had while reading them was very similar. I loved Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so it isn't really a complain, although it's a bit sad to read this book after having read another that's so much alike.
That being said, I have to say that everything else in this book is amazing. I thought the plot was really good, because even though it's a normal guy's life and not much happens in it, there's actually mystery in it and it kept me interested through the entire story. I discovered who Blue is pretty soon, but I wasn't entirely sure, so it was really nice to guess with all the little clues. I really liked their relationship and how everything evolves between them, because it's really not usual, but it's still adorable and honest.
Simon's friends are incredible, in my opinion, because they're so nice and comprehensive. Their reactions felt sincere to me and I can honestly say I would love to have them as friends. As someone who has an amazing gay friend, I loved seeing more about what it's like to come out to your friends and family, because you can only get that when you're in someone's perspective, not really in a conversation.
Bullying is part of this book, which I thought was realistic, as sad as it is. I know homosexuality isn't always well seen in our society, but I thought Simon and his friends handle it really well (better than me, to be honest, who felt like crying and wanted to beat some people up). I think it shows well how it is to be in high school, whether you're gay or not, because bullying is horrible and while we all know it shouldn't even exist, it still does.
I really liked reading this novel, because it's really cute and light-hearted. I read it pretty fast and I would do it over again!
A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas
Goodreads summary:
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!
My review:
5/5
IT WAS SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! I'm incredibly happy to have finally read this book. I totally get the hype, so if you're one of the only ones who haven't read this novel yet, please do.
I love Sarah J. Maas, but I can't pretend I'm her most loyal fan. In fact, even though I have watched and read many of her interviews and I know many things about her, I hadn't read anything else from her than Throne of Glass. I do plan on reading the rest of the series, especially after finishing this novel, but as much as I enjoyed reading TOG, I didn't get addicted to it or anything. I've heard that this series keeps getting better, so I'm really excited, but the difference with ACOTAR is that I was hooked from the very first page. There's something about retellings that's very addicting and exciting, so I loved the story from the beginning and I kept marvelling at how amazing it is.
I started by loving the characters. Feyre is extraordinarily kind, which usually annoys me because of how impossible some characters seem, but it seemed honest and real from her. She made me want to cry when she acted so selflessly and got absolutely nothing in return, which made me hope things would get better for her. I also loved all the little details we learn about her family, from the way they lost all their money to their passions and hopes. Every character is different and they're easy to imagine. Then came the hot guys. Seriously, I don't know if Maas has an incredible imagination or if she's been enough to have sexy, kind and funny men in her life, but there's something about her male characters that makes me wish I lived in a fictional world like hers. I thought Tamlin was a mysterious, complicated yet understandable character that I grew to love, while Lucien made me smile and laugh (and wish I had him for myself). There are also very hot scenes in this novel, which I can't say I didn't enjoy. I didn't know Maas could write such sexy and explicit scenes without actually going into many details, because it's something I had never seen before. I thought they were perfectly described, since they're not telling too much or too little.
This world is also a very interesting one. I do have difficulties imagining faeries, but it's always been like that for me, so it's not Maas's fault. I loved the descriptions about art, houses and landscapes, which made my artsy self very happy. Every historical detail intrigued me and kind of made me wish there could be a novel set during the War so that I could see it through different eyes and understand it even more. The fact that faeries are immortal is also very weird to think about, because I've always wondered what immortal people do with their lives and how weird it must be to age so slowly. I hope there will be more about that in the next books, because it's always nice to see one's opinion of immortality.
I found the storyline gripping. I couldn't wait for Feyre to stop thinking about ways to escape when she first got to Tamlin's place, because I wanted to see more of the place and the characters. The mystery about the world and the characters, especially Tamlin, made me want to read further and further, only to find more intriguing details. I was surprised by the way this book turned out, because until halfway through the book I was really not expecting something like that to happen. I love how it's getting more and more different from Beauty and the Beast, because it would be boring if everything was the same. I can find so many differences between the two stories that it's hardly a retelling, just a story inspired by another. Also, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so the fact that some parts of the story are inspired by it makes me really happy.
There's something about the writing and the general looks of the book that made me immediately get into the story and appreciate every second I spent reading it. Feyre's feelings are very well described throughout the entire story and I always felt like I understood where she came from and why she took her decisions. I analysed many actions, since I knew some of them might give me answers, and I loved getting back to them when I discovered the reasons behing them.
I'm very happy about this book. I would absolutely recommend it and I think that for once, I have found a novel that's worth the hype.
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!
My review:
5/5
IT WAS SO SO SO SO GOOD!!! I'm incredibly happy to have finally read this book. I totally get the hype, so if you're one of the only ones who haven't read this novel yet, please do.
I love Sarah J. Maas, but I can't pretend I'm her most loyal fan. In fact, even though I have watched and read many of her interviews and I know many things about her, I hadn't read anything else from her than Throne of Glass. I do plan on reading the rest of the series, especially after finishing this novel, but as much as I enjoyed reading TOG, I didn't get addicted to it or anything. I've heard that this series keeps getting better, so I'm really excited, but the difference with ACOTAR is that I was hooked from the very first page. There's something about retellings that's very addicting and exciting, so I loved the story from the beginning and I kept marvelling at how amazing it is.
I started by loving the characters. Feyre is extraordinarily kind, which usually annoys me because of how impossible some characters seem, but it seemed honest and real from her. She made me want to cry when she acted so selflessly and got absolutely nothing in return, which made me hope things would get better for her. I also loved all the little details we learn about her family, from the way they lost all their money to their passions and hopes. Every character is different and they're easy to imagine. Then came the hot guys. Seriously, I don't know if Maas has an incredible imagination or if she's been enough to have sexy, kind and funny men in her life, but there's something about her male characters that makes me wish I lived in a fictional world like hers. I thought Tamlin was a mysterious, complicated yet understandable character that I grew to love, while Lucien made me smile and laugh (and wish I had him for myself). There are also very hot scenes in this novel, which I can't say I didn't enjoy. I didn't know Maas could write such sexy and explicit scenes without actually going into many details, because it's something I had never seen before. I thought they were perfectly described, since they're not telling too much or too little.
This world is also a very interesting one. I do have difficulties imagining faeries, but it's always been like that for me, so it's not Maas's fault. I loved the descriptions about art, houses and landscapes, which made my artsy self very happy. Every historical detail intrigued me and kind of made me wish there could be a novel set during the War so that I could see it through different eyes and understand it even more. The fact that faeries are immortal is also very weird to think about, because I've always wondered what immortal people do with their lives and how weird it must be to age so slowly. I hope there will be more about that in the next books, because it's always nice to see one's opinion of immortality.
I found the storyline gripping. I couldn't wait for Feyre to stop thinking about ways to escape when she first got to Tamlin's place, because I wanted to see more of the place and the characters. The mystery about the world and the characters, especially Tamlin, made me want to read further and further, only to find more intriguing details. I was surprised by the way this book turned out, because until halfway through the book I was really not expecting something like that to happen. I love how it's getting more and more different from Beauty and the Beast, because it would be boring if everything was the same. I can find so many differences between the two stories that it's hardly a retelling, just a story inspired by another. Also, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale, so the fact that some parts of the story are inspired by it makes me really happy.
There's something about the writing and the general looks of the book that made me immediately get into the story and appreciate every second I spent reading it. Feyre's feelings are very well described throughout the entire story and I always felt like I understood where she came from and why she took her decisions. I analysed many actions, since I knew some of them might give me answers, and I loved getting back to them when I discovered the reasons behing them.
I'm very happy about this book. I would absolutely recommend it and I think that for once, I have found a novel that's worth the hype.
mercredi 30 septembre 2015
Dear September
Dear September,
You were quite a bittersweet month. Mostly sweet, but there was a bitterness that I just couldn't shake off, especially as the days grew colder.
I'm thankful for the sweet moments, though. They were the highlight of my month and surprisingly numerous. I enjoyed my cozy nights with friends and family, or simply by my own, with soft music playing in the background and a nice candle burning. I spent so much quality time this month that I felt like if I were to die at any point during this month, I would've had a perfectly happy life. Knowing this only made me want to go on in life even more, so I gained an energy that kept me going in the darkest times.
Hearing the rain pour while I was reading in bed made me feel happy and safe, which is always the case with autumnal days. Whenever I got a little bit of fall depression, I just picked up a nice romance novel, which cheered me up instantly. I was guilty of doing that a lot, in the last thirty-something days. However, I read over ten books in a month, while dealing with college, which I'm pretty proud of. In the end, you were a great month, reading-wise.
You were an awesome month for music. All four of the concerts I attended this month were amazing, leaving me with an exhausted yet giddy feeling. They came with a bit of nostalgia, knowing I would never experience the same exact feeling again, but they were absolutely worth it. My days were lulled by music and I found myself daydreaming about those dimly-lit rooms full of people who shared my passion. Incredibly, I got to meet my favourite band when they were performing at a music festival, something I will never forget. It's a completely different thing to listen to music all alone in your room than to hear it performed in front of you, but meeting the people who created it and talk to them brings you to cloud nine. I feel so blessed.
As I said before, there were more bitter moments, or days. You brought back the date marking the loss of someone I loved, but you also brought back the sadness and the overwhelmed feelings I felt only a year ago. Knowing it had been a year since I last saw this special someone, I couldn't help but break inside. I was fortunately able to find comfort in knowing that one day, maybe, I would think about the happier moments instead of my loss. I also got scared of losing someone else, which made me feel abandonned for as long as this fear lasted. I'm hoping that October will convince me that it was all just a fear, nothing serious.
Dear September, thank you for leaving me happy and hopeful, excited to see what October holds for me.
You were quite a bittersweet month. Mostly sweet, but there was a bitterness that I just couldn't shake off, especially as the days grew colder.
I'm thankful for the sweet moments, though. They were the highlight of my month and surprisingly numerous. I enjoyed my cozy nights with friends and family, or simply by my own, with soft music playing in the background and a nice candle burning. I spent so much quality time this month that I felt like if I were to die at any point during this month, I would've had a perfectly happy life. Knowing this only made me want to go on in life even more, so I gained an energy that kept me going in the darkest times.
Hearing the rain pour while I was reading in bed made me feel happy and safe, which is always the case with autumnal days. Whenever I got a little bit of fall depression, I just picked up a nice romance novel, which cheered me up instantly. I was guilty of doing that a lot, in the last thirty-something days. However, I read over ten books in a month, while dealing with college, which I'm pretty proud of. In the end, you were a great month, reading-wise.
You were an awesome month for music. All four of the concerts I attended this month were amazing, leaving me with an exhausted yet giddy feeling. They came with a bit of nostalgia, knowing I would never experience the same exact feeling again, but they were absolutely worth it. My days were lulled by music and I found myself daydreaming about those dimly-lit rooms full of people who shared my passion. Incredibly, I got to meet my favourite band when they were performing at a music festival, something I will never forget. It's a completely different thing to listen to music all alone in your room than to hear it performed in front of you, but meeting the people who created it and talk to them brings you to cloud nine. I feel so blessed.
As I said before, there were more bitter moments, or days. You brought back the date marking the loss of someone I loved, but you also brought back the sadness and the overwhelmed feelings I felt only a year ago. Knowing it had been a year since I last saw this special someone, I couldn't help but break inside. I was fortunately able to find comfort in knowing that one day, maybe, I would think about the happier moments instead of my loss. I also got scared of losing someone else, which made me feel abandonned for as long as this fear lasted. I'm hoping that October will convince me that it was all just a fear, nothing serious.
Dear September, thank you for leaving me happy and hopeful, excited to see what October holds for me.
http://3r0flukjsnv829c2wfeoh92i.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/341/2015/06/september.jpg
mardi 29 septembre 2015
The Paris Key - Juliet Blackwell
Goodreads summary:
An American in Paris navigates her family’s secret past and unlocks her own future, in this emotionally evocative novel byNew York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell.
As a girl, Genevieve Martin spent the happiest summer of her life in Paris, learning the delicate art of locksmithing at her uncle’s side. But since then, living back in the States, she has become more private, more subdued. She has been an observer of life rather than an active participant, holding herself back from those around her, including her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
Paris never really left Genevieve, and, as her marriage crumbles, she finds herself faced with an incredible opportunity: return to the magical city of her youth to take over her late uncle’s shop. But as she absorbs all that Parisian culture has to offer, she realizes the city also holds secrets about her family that could change her forever, and that locked doors can protect you or imprison you, depending on which side of them you stand.
My review:
4/5
While this novel is certainly not my favorite, I really liked it!
As a French speaking person, books where there's French and English are always ones that I enjoy, because I get to compare two languages and see how hard it is to do the opposite of what I did, which was learn English. Although I'm not actually French and I've unfortunatelt never been to Paris, I love to read about France in general, because my family comes from there and it sounds beautiful and amazing, except from the rude waiters, maybe. I liked to see the city through the eyes of someone who struggles with French and who's considering moving altogether to Paris, since moving to another country has always sounded incredible and romantic to me, even though it's way too scary for me to attempt it in a near future. I was relieved to see how Genevieve struggles with immigration and feels like giving up sometimes, because otherwise it wouldn't have been realistic and it would've bugged me the whole time, preventing me from enjoying this novel.
The writing style is great. I loved the alternated stories told in different chapters, because I had a better idea of the entire scheme that way. It helped me view the story as it is, instead of clouded by a character's opinion, which I really liked. I think that it could've been told only in Angela and Genevieve's perspectives, because they're the most important characters and their sides of the story are the most different.
I enjoyed the intriguing part of this story. There's one plot twist that I saw coming from the very beginning, so I was deceived to see that I had known it all this time and that it was so obvious. However, I remained curious about other parts of the story, which is why I continued reading, anxious and doubting every sentence, trying to figure out the truth. I wasn't expecting to read a mystery book, but it ended up being a little bit like that, which I welcomed happily.
The plot is interesting, even though I wish some details were more in depth. Genevieve's divorce seemed very mature to me in the end, because she truly got to know herself better and figure out the reasons behind her actions. I particularly liked seeing her understand her mother, herself and her friends better, because it shows a lot of character development that's well displayed.
I would recommend this novel, especially to Paris lovers and locksmiths out there.
(Thank you Edelweiss for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
An American in Paris navigates her family’s secret past and unlocks her own future, in this emotionally evocative novel byNew York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell.
As a girl, Genevieve Martin spent the happiest summer of her life in Paris, learning the delicate art of locksmithing at her uncle’s side. But since then, living back in the States, she has become more private, more subdued. She has been an observer of life rather than an active participant, holding herself back from those around her, including her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
Paris never really left Genevieve, and, as her marriage crumbles, she finds herself faced with an incredible opportunity: return to the magical city of her youth to take over her late uncle’s shop. But as she absorbs all that Parisian culture has to offer, she realizes the city also holds secrets about her family that could change her forever, and that locked doors can protect you or imprison you, depending on which side of them you stand.
My review:
4/5
While this novel is certainly not my favorite, I really liked it!
As a French speaking person, books where there's French and English are always ones that I enjoy, because I get to compare two languages and see how hard it is to do the opposite of what I did, which was learn English. Although I'm not actually French and I've unfortunatelt never been to Paris, I love to read about France in general, because my family comes from there and it sounds beautiful and amazing, except from the rude waiters, maybe. I liked to see the city through the eyes of someone who struggles with French and who's considering moving altogether to Paris, since moving to another country has always sounded incredible and romantic to me, even though it's way too scary for me to attempt it in a near future. I was relieved to see how Genevieve struggles with immigration and feels like giving up sometimes, because otherwise it wouldn't have been realistic and it would've bugged me the whole time, preventing me from enjoying this novel.
The writing style is great. I loved the alternated stories told in different chapters, because I had a better idea of the entire scheme that way. It helped me view the story as it is, instead of clouded by a character's opinion, which I really liked. I think that it could've been told only in Angela and Genevieve's perspectives, because they're the most important characters and their sides of the story are the most different.
I enjoyed the intriguing part of this story. There's one plot twist that I saw coming from the very beginning, so I was deceived to see that I had known it all this time and that it was so obvious. However, I remained curious about other parts of the story, which is why I continued reading, anxious and doubting every sentence, trying to figure out the truth. I wasn't expecting to read a mystery book, but it ended up being a little bit like that, which I welcomed happily.
The plot is interesting, even though I wish some details were more in depth. Genevieve's divorce seemed very mature to me in the end, because she truly got to know herself better and figure out the reasons behind her actions. I particularly liked seeing her understand her mother, herself and her friends better, because it shows a lot of character development that's well displayed.
I would recommend this novel, especially to Paris lovers and locksmiths out there.
(Thank you Edelweiss for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
vendredi 25 septembre 2015
The One Thing - Marci Lyn Curtis
Goodreads summary:
Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.
Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.
Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.
But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future... before she loses everything she has grown to love.
My review:
5/5
I LOVED IT SO MUCH! Seriously, read this book.
I was intrigued by the description of this novel, especially since I wasn't sure what it would be about. I didn't know what to expect, but it made me want to read it even more. I'm so glad I did!
I absolutely loved Ben and Maggie's friendship. Ben is the most adorable kid ever and I just want him for myself (which sounds weird, but it's okay. You'll understand if you read this book). I loved how he reacted to Maggie's news about her seeing him even though she's blind and I adored the way he kept trying to kiss her and saying that she's his girlfriend, even though he's way too young for her. I thought he was simply incredible. I know Maggie feels bad because she thinks she's using him to see, but in my head, it has always been clear that from the beginning, Maggie loved this kid and wanted to spend time with him because of how happy he makes her. It touched me more than I would've expected and I cried more than once.
I wasn't really expecting a love story in this novel, but I was happy to discover there is one. Although it's really not what I'll remember the most about this book, it's sweet and cute and I loved it. Also, I really enjoyed seeing Maggie angry and passionate, since she's an incredibly funny character. I wish I could be more like her, except without all the trouble she gets into.
Maggie's story made me sad, because it must be incredibly hard to lose your sight so suddenly. I understand why she pushed her friends away, but I can't imagine being her friend and seeing her get through all of that while being excluded from her life. They must have been really sad, too. I was glad to see her embrace her handicap and become happy again, even trying to make other friends. It's a great character development.
I can't think of anything that I disliked in this novel. It's something that I would recommend to anyone.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.
Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.
Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.
But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future... before she loses everything she has grown to love.
My review:
5/5
I LOVED IT SO MUCH! Seriously, read this book.
I was intrigued by the description of this novel, especially since I wasn't sure what it would be about. I didn't know what to expect, but it made me want to read it even more. I'm so glad I did!
I absolutely loved Ben and Maggie's friendship. Ben is the most adorable kid ever and I just want him for myself (which sounds weird, but it's okay. You'll understand if you read this book). I loved how he reacted to Maggie's news about her seeing him even though she's blind and I adored the way he kept trying to kiss her and saying that she's his girlfriend, even though he's way too young for her. I thought he was simply incredible. I know Maggie feels bad because she thinks she's using him to see, but in my head, it has always been clear that from the beginning, Maggie loved this kid and wanted to spend time with him because of how happy he makes her. It touched me more than I would've expected and I cried more than once.
I wasn't really expecting a love story in this novel, but I was happy to discover there is one. Although it's really not what I'll remember the most about this book, it's sweet and cute and I loved it. Also, I really enjoyed seeing Maggie angry and passionate, since she's an incredibly funny character. I wish I could be more like her, except without all the trouble she gets into.
Maggie's story made me sad, because it must be incredibly hard to lose your sight so suddenly. I understand why she pushed her friends away, but I can't imagine being her friend and seeing her get through all of that while being excluded from her life. They must have been really sad, too. I was glad to see her embrace her handicap and become happy again, even trying to make other friends. It's a great character development.
I can't think of anything that I disliked in this novel. It's something that I would recommend to anyone.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
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