Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Hey guys! Before we move on to the review, I have some good news! Reading For a Living has hit 100 followers! Ahhhhh!!!! That makes me so happy! Thank you all so so much! And as a thank you, look out for a giveaway next week! Thanks again guys! And now onto the review!


Dreamland
Sarah Dessen 

Wake up, Caitlin

Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He's magnetic. He's compelling. He's dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else--her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him?

Summary taken from Goodreads

Dreamland was very different from any of Dessen's novels that I have read so far. Dreamland dealt with a much more serious topic then the others, an abusive relationship. I thought it was handled very well. 

I think what made this book so intense for me is that I listened to it on audiobook instead of reading it. Since I don't have any personal experience with the topic, having it read aloud to me gave me serious chills a multiple occasion. It made it so much easier to really get inside Caitlin's head. There were quite a few times I had to turn on some very happy music to keep myself from slipping into a deep depression. Which if that isn't proof of a great novel, I don't know what is!

Caitlin life is completely alter on her birthday, when her sister leaves without a word. Her family now has a hole that Caitlin feels she needs to fill. But she doesn't feel like she can ever live up to her. When she meets Rogerson, she feels like he's the first person to ever really see her, not just a shadow of her sister. And because of that, she lets her whole life spiral so far out of control

Rogerson was a great bad character. At first, I felt so bad for him! He had some very serious family issues that he didn't know how to deal with. And when he met Caitlin, he thought that she was going to save him. He put her on a pedestal. And when, in his eyes, she let him down for the first time, he couldn't handle it. He completely snapped. It was a horrifically sad story that will stay with me for a long time.

Dessen has quickly become a new favorite author. It makes me sad that I wanted so long to read her books!

Quotes I Liked: may contain spoilers

"If you didn't love him, this would have never happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go."
  
"I had this wild thought that he was the only one in all this chaos who was just like me, and that was comforting and profound all at once/"

"I took his wildness from him and tried to fold into myself, filling up the empty spaces all those second place finishes left behind."



Have you read this? What did you think?

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

 Summary taken from Goodreads


Unfortunately,  this was my least favorite book in the series. But that doesn't mean I didn't like it. It just wasn't what I wanted or what I expected. I felt like everyone kept doing things that were out of character. 

I spent almost the entire book being so furious with Jeremiah. Which definitely had never happened before. I really liked Jeremiah and Belly together, but they just kept making terrible mistakes that didn't make any sense to me.

Honestly, Conrad was all that kept me reading. He is just... so broken and messed up and I just want to fix him! 

All in all, I was happy with the ending, but the rest of the book was lacking. 

And now for something new here! I'm going to try to start writing down certain quotes I liked from books. These might be a little spoilerish so read at your own risk!

"It's not all the sudden," he said, his eyes locked on mine. "It's always."

"When did you know you were in love?"
I didn't have an answer to that question. There hadn't been one specific moment. It was like gradually waking up. You go from being asleep to the space between dreaming and awake then into consciousness. It's a slow process, but when you're awake, there's no mistaking it. 
There was no mistaking it was love.


So, for those of you who've read it, who did you want Belly to end up with?

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

 Summary taken from Goodreads 

It took me a really long time to figure out exactly what I thought of this book. If you've read it, you know what I mean. It just kept throwing you through loop after loop. I couldn't figure out what was real and what was just in Chloe's mind. I had to put the book down for almost a week before I really processed what I thought of it.

Suma's writing made this story. I think if anyone else would have attempted a novel like this, they would have failed. This is a story that is really just about two sisters. Nothing else. But Suma drags you in to this beautiful, haunting world of two sisters that you can't escape.

 A world that lies underneath the reservoir called Olive. 


Was Olive just a story that Ruby made up, or do the citizens still live there, dragging anyone down with them who swam into their territory? The whole thing was just so creepy.


Ruby and Chloe's relationship was beyond anything I have ever experience. I know what it's like to worship your older sister, since I'm the baby in my family. But this was something beyond that. Chloe really believe that Ruby could change their world just by wanting something. Chloe's whole world revolved around Ruby. She didn't feel like she existed unless Ruby was with her. It was a scary devotion that I will never understand. Sometimes it felt like Chloe hated Ruby a little, but she couldn't live without her. Their relationship was the most tangled and confusing I have ever read. 


Honestly, I'm still having a hard time putting this book into words. Because, well, nothing really happens. And usually that would be a bad thing. But that's not the case in the least with Imaginary Girls. It's completely creepy, haunting, eerie, and a mess of other adjectives to describe the chills this book left you with. It's not something I can write in a review, it's something you have to experience for yourself. 


It's been a long time since a book left me speechless and unsure of what I just read. But Imaginary Girls did so in the best way. Basically all I can say is read it. Then you'll know what I mean.

White Witch by Trish Milburn

Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business.No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It. “Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.

Summary taken from Goodreads.


White Witch was a fun, quick read. I didn't love it, but it kept my attention and was entertaining enough.


There was a bad case of insta-love in this one. Not just insta-love, but STARCROSSED insta-love. Keller and Jax see each other for the first time, and then they are in love. But she's a witch and he hunts the supernatural. Not really anything new there and the should-I-shouldn't-I got old pretty quick. 


That aside, I enjoyed the plot. Jax is a witch on the run from her coven because they're evil and they force everyone in the coven to do evil. She doesn't want that for herself, so she runs. Now if they find her, they'll kill her. Even though she's blood family. Kinda messed up huh? So now Jax is trying to blend in and live a normal life. She clashes with the 'queen bee', makes friends with the quirky outsider, and attracts the hottest, most unattainable guy in school. Again, not much for new ideas. 


I did like the quirky best friend and her Whedon obsession. As a lifelong Whedon fanatic, I loved all the Buffy and Firefly references. 


Overall, White With was a fast, enjoyable read, even if it's not terribly original. I'd say it's worth reading, but no need to run out and buy a copy THIS MINUTE. Probably more of a borrow book than a buy.


Have you read this? Let me know what you thought of it in comments!

Slipping Reality by Emily Beaver

In a time of hardship and heartbreak, sometimes, reality just isn't enough. Slipping Reality is the story of fourteen-year-old Katelyn Emerson, who, when faced with the glaring reality of her brother's illness, rebels against the truth by slipping away into the depths of her own imagination. There, she finds the kind of support and comfort she feels she deserves. There, she does not have to feel so alone. And yet, as Katelyn's grasp on reality begins to unravel, so too does the story of a girl who grew up too fast and fell apart too soon. Emily Beaver's debut novel is a coming of age story that deals with the trials of young grief, insight, and growth where it's least expected.

Summary taken from Goodreads


This is going to be a hard review. It feels almost cruel, writing a bad review for this book, knowing that it's semi-autobiographical. But... it just wasn't a good book. It was written by a grieving fourteen year old girl, and it shows.


In the author's note, it says that this book was written as a form of therapy, a way to help the author deal with the death of her brother. I understand that, and have even done a little bit of that myself. But I personally think maybe it should have stayed that way and not been published. The story wasn't plausible, the writing wasn't good, and the pacing was off.


Part of the reason I disliked it so much was everyone in Katelyn's life, besides her imaginary friends, were completely okay with the fact she was pulling away from everyone, including her dying brother. That rang so false to me. Her parents and her best friend would have never let her get away with it, not if they cared about her at all. Not being there when someone you love dies, it's one of the worst feelings there is. Katelyn wouldn't have been able to forgive herself that easily, and her family would have known that and tried to put a stop to it.

We also spent eighty-five percent of this book listening to Katelyn debate whether or not Tristen and Cedric were real. She would say that she didn't care anymore, then go right back to the real-not real questions. It would have been okay, but they just kept saying the same things over and over again. No new information was given. It also really creeped me out that Katelyn was romatically involved with a figment of her imagination.  And didn't think it was strange at all. Nope. Completely normal...


And finally, my biggest complaint. Katelyn kept talking about her amazing relationship with her brother Matthew. How her whole life was about him. And she spends the entire book ignoring him. We see him about five times the entire novel. It was sad he was dying, but I had no emotional attachment to him. I had no idea who he was, other than as a boy dying of cancer.


I wanted to like this book. I really did. Especially knowing that parts were taken from the author's real life. But Slipping Reality fell flat in too many ways for me to enjoy it.
 

The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards

Magic, Djinn, Ogres, and Sorcerers. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings, long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying usurper who, even with his eyes closed, can see all.

When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must go to any lengths to rescue her. Along with her best friend, Ridhan—a silver-haired, violet-eyed boy of mysterious origins—and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all.

Summary taken from Goodreads 

The Book of Wonders was a really fun read. I don't read middle grade novels very often, but I enjoy this one a lot!

Zardi's Arribitha seemed like such a sad place. It used to be a beautiful kingdom, filled with magic. But the evil sultan stomped all that out, killing anyone with the slightest magical ability. But still, Zardi couldn't help craving it, wanting to know as much as possible.

I hated the fact that Zardi's father worked for the sultan, even if he was just trying to keep some of his evil in check. But he was clearlu failing, because one night the sultan comes for Zardi's older sister and turns her into a Praisemaker, meaning that he would hunt and kill her. 

And that's where Zardi's adventure begins. She and her best friend, Ridhan, go off in search of a way to save her sister and destroy the sultan. And maybe find out more about where Ridhan comes from. The story is jammed packed with pirates, magic, genies, and non stop action. I loved every minute of it!

My favorite parts were probably the references to Aladdin. They made me smile and excited for the next book. I hope we get to see more of them.

Book of Wonders was a fabulous adventure story that I'm so glad I won, or else I probably would have missed out on it! Check this one out! I promise you won't be disappointed!   

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.
Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I've Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and the fantastic. 

Summary taken from Goodreads

This book was really interesting. A world where caffeine and chocolate are illegal? No thank you! But it did make for a great read!

I read some complaints about how the coffee and chocolate affected people in this world. But it really didn't bother me at all. Haven't you ever had a caffeine high? Or a sugar rush? Imagine if you only had caffeine and chocolate once a month or even less? Wouldn't it taste better and hit you harder? Especially if you had too much at a time. It made perfect sense to me. Chocolate drunk sounds pretty good to me!

I loved reading about Anya's crime family. The dynamics between Anya and her extended family was so intriguing and different than anything I've read before. It was honorable that Anya was trying to keep her brother and sister far away from it, but family doesn't go away that easily. Not to mention everyone immediately judged her by her last name, assuming she was just like her father. I felt so bad for her!

But I felt worse for her brother and sister. It felt like they just couldn't win! Her brother was in the accident that killed their mother and was brain damaged because of it. It's an understatement that they deserved more than life gave them but they were trying to make the best of it. I loved both of them. 

Win... hmm. I liked him as a character, but I didn't really like the love story between him and Anya. It seemed like a mixture of insta-love and teenage rebellion, like they only got together because they knew they weren't supposed to. It wasn't enough for me. And the end really made me mad! Make up your mind already, geesh!

Anya was definitely my favorite though. She had a really hard life and had to grow up too fast. But she was dealing, and trying to protect her family. I admired that so much! I can't wait to see what she decides to do in the next book!

There was one plot twist I saw coming from miles away, and it bothered me that Anya couldn't see what was happening. It was right in front of her face! She kept almost fixing the situation, but then got distracted by something. And by something, I mean Win. Maybe that's why I didn't like them together...

All in all, a really interesting read and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Starters by Lissa Price

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . 


The world that Price built was completely fascinating. A world where there are no adults. Just kids, called Starters, and very old people, called Enders. And by very old I mean 80 to 200 years old!! How their life span got expanded so much wasn't really explained, which bothered me a bit.


The Spore Wars started it all. There really wasn't much said about the war, not the who or the why. Just that someone released spores over America that killed everyone who came in contact with them.. There weren't enough vaccines for everyone so they started with children and the elderly. Now they're all that's left. I found myself the whole book wishing there was more information on the war.


Life is really hard for Starters that are unclaimed, meaning they have no grandparents or other family to take care of them. If they're are caught, they are taken away by the government and institutionalized. Callie and her brother have been on the run since their mother died and their father was taken away. But when Callie hears about Prime Destinations, she thinks she has found a way to keep them safe forever. 


From the get go, Prime Destinations creeped me the hell out! Actually her whole world did, but especially Prime. Having someone take over your body. And you have no idea what they did while they were in it! How gross is that?! 


Not that I blame Callie for taking a shot. When you don't know where your next meal is going to come from or where you'll be sleeping, you do anything you have to survive. 


The plot was amazing! Prime Destinations kept getting worse and worse. It was so much fun learning who the real bad guys were and who to trust with Callie. The twists kept coming. I didn't see any of them coming. Especially the big one towards the end! That one made me so mad I started tearing up a bit. So mean!


The ending was just okay for me though. Some parts were really good, but then there were some parts that were too far fetched for me and didn't seem to fit with the story. I'm definitely going to be checking out Enders though. I hope more about the war and Enders are explained! But I can't wait to see more of this world!

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

Summary taken from Goodreads

Wanderlove was a beautifully written story. The scenery was so vivid and amazing, I was ready to go out and buy a backpack and take off to a part of the world I'd never seen before. I was so envious of Bria the entire novel, which just goes to show how much I loved it!

Not only was the setting so real it was like you were there, but the story was very cute as well. Bria meets a couple of veteran backpackers who take her under their wind and help her escape what was bound to be a miserable vacation with the so called Global Vagabonds. She almost talked herself out of going, but the urge to see Central American the right way won out. Plus it didn't hurt that Rowen was a complete hottie! I would have done exactly the same!

Rowan was mysterious and totally sexy. He had a dark past but was trying so hard to overcome it and live a better life. That made him utterly irresistible to me. And he reads!! *swoon*

Rowan's sister, Starling, was an interesting character. She was really upbeat and fun to read about. And super protective of Rowan, like any good sister should be. I wish she would have been around more, but it made the scenes she was in even better. I'd love to have the kind of freedom she had, a job she loved and the means to travel. What else could a girl ask for?

Something else I loved were the drawings! There weren't many of them but they were very pretty and added a unique touch to this book. I thought it was an awesome idea!

My only complaint was Bria's relationship with her ex. It was clear from the start it was a terrible relationship but Bria couldn't see it. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen all the time. I know it does. It just got a little repetitive and made Bria seem weak. Still, the good farrrr out weighed the bad.

So. Who wants to go backpacking with me? Like. Right now?

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect. 

First, I have to say, look at that gorgeous cover! Just look at it! I was instantly drawn in by it and had to pick it up. So pretty!!! And the story was even better! Loved it! It was exactly what I wanted it to be. A cute love story, an intriguing mystery, and a kind of magic I rarely read about. Now I think I'm hooked! 


Donna was injured when she was young by a terrifying fairy beast. Without the Maker, she would have lost her hands. But he used alchemy and iron to restore them. I was hooked right away.

The Order of the Dragon was so fasctinating! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to learn more about them. Alchemy isn't something I've read much about, but this book made me want to look more into and pick up more books with it in it. There wasn't a ton in this book, so I'm hoping the Wood Queen brings more!

Navin was probably my favorite character. He was such a loyal friend who stuck by Donna no matter what, even when she got kicked out of school. Most people will never know how amazing it is to find someone like that. Even when she had to tell him the truth about her, it didn't make him love her any less. He was amazing. Which was why I was so mad when he got kidnapped! Argh! Leave the super awesome best friend alone!

Xan was a great love interest. He was sweet and really cared about Donna. They shared something that no one else could come close to relating to. And he was hot! Like seriously steamy. I liked watching their romance unfold.

Donna was the only character I couldn't really connect with. I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. I don't know what it was about her, but she just wasn't my favorite.

There were definitely more questions than answers with this book. Like what really happened to Donna. I can't wait to pick up Wood Queen and find out!

The Near Witch by Victioria Schwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget

Though the Near Witch starts off a little slow for my taste, once the story got rolling I really enjoyed it.

Lexi and her family live on the moor in a town called Near. This scenery was so beautiful and haunting. It was like the moor was alive and had a mind of it's own. If you just listened hard enough, it would tell you all it's secrets. But as Lexi's father always told her, the wind is lonely and always looking for company. I loved everything about the moor. I wanted to explore it and learn about it with Lexi. I wanted to get lost in it.

All the stories Lexi's father told her were beautifully written. There was a lot but I couldn't help wanting to hear more. Even though the father is dead the whole book, I felt like I knew him. It was clear he was a great man and father. I liked him the most, even though all we hear are stories about him.

The magic in this story was wonderful. It was 'old' magic, controlling elements instead of casting spells. I wish we saw more of this type in YA books.

Lexi was fierce and very protective. She was a great main character. She loved her family and her town and did everything she could to protect them. I admired that.

Cole kind of bothered me at first. I think it had something to do with how mysterious him was. It seemed a little unnatural and forced. But when he started to open up more, I really liked him.

The Near Witch is a hauntingly beautiful story that is well worth checking out. The writing has a very lyrical quality to it and I can't wait to see what Schwab comes out with next!

Have you guys read this? What did you think? 

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

When high school junior Natalie - or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper - is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected - especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Summary taken from Goodreads 


First off, I love this cover! It was so adorable and playful I couldn't help but pick it up!


Babe in Boyland was a cute, but predictable read. If you've seen She's the Man (or read the original Shakespeare play) you've read this book. But it was still a fun read.


Natalie goes under cover as a boy at an all boys school to find out what boys really think about relationships and why boys do the things they do (which I'm sure all us girls would LOVE to know). As fate would have it, she gets a super hot, sensitive boy as her roommate. And of course, 
  she falls in love with him, but can't do anything about it. Hilarity ensues. 


Parts were laugh out loud funny. Especially the closet scene. SO funny! 


All in all, it was a cute, quick read. I'm glad I read it but didn't buy it. I'd say it's worth your time, but get it from the library or a friend.

The Unbecoming Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.


It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember 
that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
 
She's wrong.

Summary taken from Goodreads 


There probably isn’t anything I can say about this book that hasn’t been said. But I don’t care. I’m gonna say it anyways. Holy crap this book was amazing!!

The book start with Mara waking up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. Her parents tell her she just survived a terrible accident that claimed the like of her best friend, her boyfriend, and his sister.

Mara develops a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and starts seeing her friends everywhere. In order to help save her mind, her family moves her across the country. But it just seems to be getting worse. And strange things start happening to people around her. Trying to figure out what was real with Mara was enough to spin your head.

Then Mara meets Noah. Noah!!! He is just the most steamy. I loved ever scene he was in.

This book threw me through the loop so many times. The middle! The end! Oh my gosh. The twists in this just kept coming. Really there isn’t much more I can say without giving it away.

The only thing left to say is.  Read it. Now! 

Month in Review: January

Can you believe January is  already over?? I sure can't! Where did this month go??

Well it was a great month for me reading wise at least! Here are the books I've read and some other highlights this month.

Books read in January: Links go to my reviews
1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevens
2. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
4. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
5. Away by Terri Hall 
6. Clarity by Kim Harrington  
7. Halflings by Heather Burch 
8. The Iron Daughter by Julia Kagawa
9. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
10. Max by James Patterson
11. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins (review to come!)
12. Hunters of the Dusk by Darren Shan
13. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (review to come!)

Other reviews posted:
1. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
2. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
3. Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison

Favorite book of January:

Super hard to choose between this and Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, but I am so in love with this series and everything Clare does! Loved every moment of this book.
















Favorite post of January:
Daily Dose (2)
I am just loving this meme. It's so fun to post pictures that inspire me or that I just think are fun. You should check it out!






Well that was my January! Did you have a good month too?

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Summary taken from Goodreads

I loved this story. It was a super unique idea and I don't think anyone but McMann could have played it off. Her writing style is fantastic. She has such a lyrical style that flows so beautifully. The imaginary is so vivid. I think she could an idea that could have been laughable by other authors and turned it into something great.

Kendall was a unique main character, to say the least. She has extreme OCD that effected every area of her life. And she just accepted it as part of herself and was coping with it. I've had no personal experience with OCD but it sounds terrible. Kendall was an extremely strong person for living with it like she was.  

I wish we could have seen more of her and her best friend slash boyfriend's relationship. It was clear he was wonderful to her and they loved each other very much. It sucked that he went missing so quickly before we could really get to know him. Kendall's reaction when he went missing broke my heart so much. I couldn't imagine losing my best friend, but not knowing if he was alive or dead?  That would be a million times worse.


Her and Jacian's relationship was so wonderful. You could tell it was hard for Kendall to let him in, but she was trying so hard. I thought it was so cute and genuine. Jacian was kind of a jerk when he first entered, but once he let his guard down I couldn't get enough of him.

I can't really say much about the missing kids or the desk, because it's all too spoilery. But I will tell you I've never read anything like it. I loved how it all came together. All in all, what a wonderful book! 

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart

 Summary taken from Goodreads 




This is the second in the Iron Fey series, and I think it was an improvement over the first.

War is breaking out between Summer and Winter courts. The Specter of the Summers, which has been passed between the courts for centuries to make the passing of the seasons, has been stolen from the Winter court. Of course, they blame Summer, especially after the murder of one of their Royals. Only Ash and and Meghan know the truth, that the Iron Fey is behind it all. And after a betrayal by one of Winter's own, no one will believe them. So now Ash and Meghan are on the run from their courts, risking their lives to steal the Specter back from the Iron Fey.

The action in this just doesn't stop. There is battle after battle, each unique and terrifying.

There was only one thing that really started to get on my nerves. Meghan jerking Puck around. Kissing him, then pushing him away saying she has feelings for Ash. It's clear the entire time that Ash and Meghan are in love and no matter what they say they aren't over each other. But she wouldn't just let Puck go. It pissed me off. Puck is my favorite character and he deserved so much better than the way Meghan treated him in this book.

Meghan and Ash are the epitome of star crossed lovers and I'm rooting for them! They make each other better and they are a great couple.

The ending made me very curious of how this books are going to progress and I can't wait to find out!

Clarity by Kim Harrington

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Summary taken from Goodreads. 


Clarity was awesome! I couldn't put it down! Seriously! I read it from start to finish in one sitting. Totally loved it. 

It was awesome to read about a family of psychics all working together to run a business. And to see how Clare defended her brother no matter what. The family loyatly in this was astounding and I found myself feeling a bit jealous of it every now and then.

The murder mystery aspect was done so well. It kept me guess the whole time. Every time I thought I figured out whodunnit, Harrington threw me another curve ball. Usually, I'm pretty good at figuring out the mysteries. I wasn't even close this time. I loved every minute of it!

I also enjoy the romance aspect greatly. Clare's relationship with her ex, Justin, was very confusing and messy and that made it all the more real. He hurt her very badly, but she was trying to forgive him though she didn't know how. Something I can completely relate too.


Then enters the new hottie, Gabriel. He was completely steamy and I was drawn to him from the get go, just like Clare. I lived for the scenes he was in, even when he was kind of a great. But with his past, who could blame him...


Clarity was a five star read. If for any reason you've been putting off reading it like I did. Stop it. Read it. Now.

Halfings by Heather Burch

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Summary taken from Goodreads. 


This book was not for me. I didn't enjoy it.


Nikki was so inconsistent. As where all of the characters. I couldn't connect with any of them, or even really get a feel for who they were. Just for one example, Nikki was supposed to be a black belt. One of the Halflings, Raven, wanted to show her how to fight beings with supernatural abilities. So he went to attack her, and she cringed away and didn't even try to defend herself. That stopped me cold. I just didn't buy it at all.


The insta-love between her and Mace (and her and Raven) really bothered me as well. Both boys wanted her, but I couldn't tell you why. And I don't think they could either. 


Then there was the ending, which was so abrupt and out of nowhere that I thought maybe my Kindle had loaded the book wrong. Nope. It was really the ending. It didn't answer any of the questions that the whole book was about. It just didn't make sense to me.


I hate writing negative reviews. They make me feel so bad! But I just couldn't find anything in this book I enjoyed. I could go on, but I'll leave it at this. This just wasn't the book for me. 




Also, this is my first Debut Author Challenge book! For more on this challenge, check out The Story Siren's blog

Away by Terri Hall

After crossing the Line, Rachel finds herself in a world where survival is never guaranteed - a world where bizarre creatures roam the woods and people have strange abilities. Everything has gone to ruin Away and the survivors have banded into warring clans. Rachel finds her father being held prisoner by a tribe of Others, and she and her new friends set out to rescue him. But when they cross back over the Line, Rachel and Pathik make a foolish decision, bringing them into further danger that can only be resolved with an unthinkable sacrifice.

An adventure filled with life-and-death choices, dark conspiracies, and heart-poundingly suspenseful moments, this sequel delivers.

 

Summary taken from Goodreads.  

 

Away was a vast improvement over the Line. The pacing was much better. I think the Line just had too much back story, but once that was out of the way, Away was really able to shine. 

 

This book was one rescue mission after another, but somehow managed to not feel forced. the reunions in it were touching and heartfelt. The separations were painful and heart wrenching. I cried a few times for very different reasons.  There was a few bits that were a little repetitive (like the rescue mission and one line was actually repeated word for word). That was my only real complaint.

The government in this is just plain scary. The things they do to people, they just disappear off the street and no one even blinks. And can't forget what they did to the people in the Away. They abandoned them and now are stealing them to experiment on them. It's just terrifying. And totally plausible, which makes it that much more terrifying. 

Pathik and his family are my favorite. Their life in Away is so much different than anything we have ever known, and hopefully ever will.

I hope we haven't seen the last of this world. There's so much more to be had here!

Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison

Seventeen, dead, and in charge of heaven's dark angels—all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts.
Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens.
But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention. 

Summary taken from Goodreads

First thing, while I enjoy Harrison's young adult series, I greatly prefer her adult series. If you haven't read the Rachel Morgan series, you should. Seriously.

Early to Death, Early to Rise was a quick, fun read, but wasn't really memorable. I liked learning more about light and dark reapers slash time keepers (especially Barnabas, who is by far my favorite character) but other than that nothing else really stuck in my mind,


I'll be finishing this series, but it isn't on the top on my to be read list.