Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff

 ARC provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss

Author: Steve Brezenoff
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary 
Release Date: May 27th 2014 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 23th, 2014

Synopsis

It is Labor Day weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and boy and girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning: Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again.

But they don't.

This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other's lives, who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn't belong in their lives. A story of those moments when we act like people we aren't in order to figure out who we are. A story of the roles we all play-at school, at home, with our friends, and without our friends-and the one person who might show us what lies underneath it all.

My Thoughts

Just so you know, it doesn't take a gamer to enjoy to this book, even the whole book itself revolves around role playing in various forms. I for one is not a gamer, but now the idea of playing Dungeons and Dragons seems very appealing.

Frankly speaking, at first I really, really, loved this book. It was so much different from most books I have read. I've always loved reading about characters with flaws and both Lesh and Lana were imperfect, yet perfect all the same. I loved their senses of humor. However, Lesh's obsession with Lana was a tad bit too disturbing for me. So character-wise, this book was not too shabby.

What really bugged was the storyline. About the first 60% or so, it was kind of wonderful getting to know the characters and all. However, it dawned on me that nothing much actually happened. It was so dragging, so slow and there was so much detail that I still don't think important. And that took the love that I initially had for this book away.

Overall, it was a cute story.

Thanks Balzer + Bray for the eGalley.

Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

ARC provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss

Author: Jennifer Echols
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Series: Superlatives
Book: 1
Release Date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 19th, 2014


Synopsis
Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…

My Thoughts
Sad to say, I've had a few hit and miss with Jennifer Echols books. And this is definitely a miss.

Sometimes it's hard to enjoy a book, even the writing is nice when you want to do some harm on the main character. That was what happened to me when I was reading this book. I really, really, didn't like Tia. I couldn't stand her from the very beginning. Me and her kind of character are not meant to be together. Yes, she had a good sense of humor, but seriously, she was such a floozy and so rude.

Not to sound like a prude or anything and I absolutely have read books more graphic than this, but come on! It was supposed to be a young adult book. The fact that Tia and Will getting freaky, even not all the way, just maybe an hour after they had met made me cringe. She was only what, 17, and she had a f*ck buddy?!? Like are you kidding me? Maybe I'm old school, still I wasn't comfortable with the way Tia character portrayed. And my initial impression of this book was sweet and fluffy teenage romance. Wrong was an understatement.

Will and Tia's relationship didn't make the book any better. It was fast, weird and I'm not sure it was even possible.They went on from a random hookup, to Will asked (and was shot down) Tia on a real date, to them flirting (way too much) while Will was dating another girl, to Tia kinda, sorta, maybe wanted to date Will (something so foreign to her because she was more comfortable having wild monkey sex with random guys and her beloved friend with benefits) and so on and so forth. It was a hot mess.

Some people might find this book more than interesting and enjoyable. I'm not one of those people.

Thanks Simon Pulse for the eGalley 

Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt

 ARC provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss
 

Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: July 8th 2014 
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 18th, 2014

Synopsis
Opposites attract—and then complicate—in this romantic, relatable novel from the author of Two-way Street and Sometimes It Happens.

It starts with a scribbled note in class: I like your sparkle. Harper had casually threaded a piece of blue and silver tinsel through her ponytail in honor of school spirit day. And that carefree, corny gesture is what grabs Penn Mattingly’s eye. Penn—resident heartbreaker of the senior class. Reliably unreliable. Trouble with a capital “T.” And okay, smolderingly sexy.

Harper’s surprised by Penn’s attention—and so is Penn. The last thing he needs is a girlfriend. Or even a friend-with-benefits. The note is not supposed to lead to anything.

Oh, but it does. They hang out. They have fun. They talk. They make out. And after a while, it seems like they just click. But Penn and Harper have very different ideas about what relationships look like, in no small part because of their very different family backgrounds. Of course they could talk about these differences—if Penn knew how to talk about feelings.

Harper and Penn understand their attraction is illogical, yet something keeps pulling them together. It’s like a crazy roller coaster—exhilarating, terrifying, and amazing all at once. And neither knows how to stop the ride…

My Thoughts
The story starts with Harper gets her heart broken and then it goes back to the beginning, showing us how it comes to this point. It is told from both Penn's and Harper's point of view.

I have read a few of books written by Lauren Barnholdt and I absolutely loved each one of them. Likewise, I enjoyed reading this one greatly.

Relationship between Harper and Penn moved a little too fast in my opinion. Well, it wasn't like an inst love or anything, still it progressed too quickly. It was a complicated relationship, and the fact that Penn was hot and cold time and time again didn't help either. I liked Harper and Penn characters, though. Harper was sweet, witty, but a tad pushy. Penn was charming, to say the least.

As for the storyline, I think it had a nice flow and very compelling. Due to how the book started, I was curious to find out what had happened that made them arrived this point. Some scenes did raise a few questions, though, as I still don't believe how that made sense. Nevertheless, it was a cute teenage love story.

Overall, it was such a sweet and romantic book. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Thanks Simon Pulse for the eGalley. 

The Body in the Woods by April Henry

ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley

  
Author: April Henry
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery
Series: Point Last Seen
Book: 1
Release Date: June 17th 2014
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 15th, 2014 

Synopsis
In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations.

My Thoughts
This book was a really well-written mystery told from multiple point of view. The fact that each main characters - Nick, Ruby and Alexis - were such different in term of personalities and frame of mind made reading this a fun experience for me.

The storyline held my attention since the beginning of the book. Maybe it was because I've always enjoyed reading books about serial killers and guessing the murderers. It was sad to say, though, that this book was a tad predicable because not only I got to read from the 3 aforementioned main characters, but also from the killer. Not that I didn't like that about this book, it just made easy to spot the killer.

One point that I am not sure I liked was the irrelevant details that made this book a little dragging. It was nice to understand what happened around the main characters, still I think it was too overly descriptive.

Overall, it was a wonder murder mystery with well-developed characters and astonishing plots. 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Young Adult | Historical
Series: The Winner's Trilogy
Book: 1
Release Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 11th, 2014

Synopsis
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

My Thoughts
I chose to read this book mainly because of the irresistible cover. Gosh, it was so gorgeous. Besides, based on the blurb, it did sound tempting.

I enjoyed this book a lot at the beginning, albeit the slow pace. It was indeed very interesting and different from other books I have read. I loved the characters, sadly, later on they seemed a bit off to me. I didn't enjoy the second half of the book as I did the first half. Frankly, the pace did get a lot better. Things moved faster and there were a lot of actions and some really messed up events happened. For some reasons, I didn't find those things interesting enough. Maybe it was because of the boring writing. I think the flow made it hard to focus on the story. It was not the kind of writing I'd enjoy.

Overall, the characters and the storyline were very interesting. I had problem with the writing itself, though. It was dragging and rather choppy. 

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley

Author: Dana Reinhardt
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: May 27th 2014  
Publisher:  Wendy Lamb Books
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 10th, 2014

Synopsis
Nell knows a secret about her perfect, beautiful sister Layla. If she tells, it could blow their world apart.

When Nell and Layla were little, Nell used to call them Nellaya. Because to Nell, there was no difference between where she started and her adored big sister ended. They're a unit; divorce made them rely on each other early on, so when one pulls away, what is the other to do? But now, Nell's a freshman in high school and Layla is changing, secretive. And then Nell discovers why. Layla is involved with one of their teachers. And even though Nell tries to support Layla, to understand that she's happy and in love, Nell struggles with her true feelings: it's wrong, and she must do something about it.

My Thoughts
At one point when I was reading this book, I thought it was going to be one of those books that would blow my mind. Not that the book was not interesting or anything, but the slow, dragging pace really got on my nerves.

The writing which was done very nicely, actually. And that was one of the reasons for me to read and finish this book. It was full of questions that needed answers and I just couldn't put it down until I knew what the heck was going on. I guess the slow pace was because of this book was too overly descriptive. Nell went on and on before getting to the point. I liked her character, but the girl sounded insane at times.

Now on to the characters. I loved that Nell and Layla were not ones of those one-dimensional characters. At the beginning of the book, I was touched by how much Nell loved her big sister. Later, her love became a little too creepy. Though, I liked that she tried to protect her sister and all that.

The ending was not too bad, but I wasn't satisfied being left in the unknown. A bit on what was going to happen afterward would have been more than appreciated. 

Blur by Steven James

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Steven James
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery
Series: Blur Trilogy
Book: 1
Release Date: May 27th, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 4th, 2014

Synopsis
The isolated town of Beldon, Wisconsin, is shocked when a high school freshman’s body is found in Lake Algonquin. Just like everyone in the community, sixteen-year-old Daniel Byers believes that Emily Jackson’s death was accidental. But at her funeral, when he has a terrifying vision of her, his world begins to rip apart at the seams.

Convinced that Emily’s appearance was more than just a mere hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death, even as he increasingly loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.

What’s real? What’s not? Where does reality end and madness begin?

As Daniel struggles to find the truth, his world begins to crumble around him as he slips further and further into his own private blurred reality.

My Thoughts
Written in third person, this book was told from Daniel's point of view. As a high school quarterback, he lives a pretty normal life until he attends a funeral of a 14-year-old girl.

It was a great blend of fantasy, horror and suspense. There were scenes where things got real spooky that freaked me out quite a bit and I loved it. I also liked that this book wasn't too big on romance and the suspense was absolutely spot on. It was impossible to guess who the killer was.

This book had amazing wording. It made the whole murder thing feel so much more interesting with the great word choice and the nice flow of the writing. It was a little slow in the middle, but things moved faster later on. The ending was unpredictable and wrapped up really well. I loved all the twists and turns.

Besides wonderful wording and plots, the character development was equally astonishing. I liked every character and felt connected with Daniel who was the main character.

In short, this book was a delightful read with some frightening scenes. It is suitable for those who enjoy a good murder mystery book.

All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

Author: Julie Berry
Genre: Young Adult | Historical
Release Date: September 26th 2013 
Publisher:  Viking Juvenile
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: November 13th, 2013

Synopsis
Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

My Thoughts
I don't normally read historical fiction, but if there are more books as good as this one, I'm sure going to read more of this genre.

This book is hauntingly beautiful, and I love everything about it, even the parts that wrecked my heart.

The story was so captivating that I couldn't think of anything else, but this book - how Judith's life was going be, who had done that to her and why. Just several pages in, I wept like a baby. My heart ached for her and what she had to go through. Being shunned and discriminated against even when she herself was a victim was just so cruel beyond words could describe.

This is one of the books that I will find time to reread. Because once is not enough.

(Some) Favorite Quotes
"You are the sun in my world, and how can I endure to watch you set into another woman's arms?"

"If you'd let me, I'd kiss away your fear, and let you rest yourself upon me, and I, I would die beside you and count my self lucky."

"If you were mine I'd comfort you; if you were mine you'd need no comfort."

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi
Series: The Lunar Chronicles
Book: 3
Release Date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: February 8th, 2014

Synopsis
In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Thoughts
This series is only getting better! And if you haven't started reading this series yet, you are missing out on something so amazing. This is one of the must-read series.

I loved book 2, Scarlet, and at that time I really wanted to know more about Thorne. Because I seriously loved his character (and Wolf, too). And I was so thrilled when I found out there would be more of Thorne in Cress. The wait was torturous.

The reason I loved this book was not only because of Thorne, but a thousand other reasons. Just the name of the character, Cress, was very intriguing. I loved the wordplay since "Rapunzel" literally means a type of plant, and so does "Cress".

Compared to its predecessors, Cress was probably the most emotional one. The twist was well-executed, but I did wish it hadn't been that heartbreaking. Now all I have to do is waiting just one more year until Winter is scheduled to be released. JUST. ONE. MORE. YEAR. 

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Young Adult | Urban Fantasy
Series: Elemental
Book: 4
Release Date: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: February 4th, 2014

Synopsis 
EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

My Thoughts
This has been one of my most favorite fantasy series of all time. I'm glad I took a chance and started Storm back in last November. What so great about starting this series later than others is that I didn't have to wait for months to read the sequels. But waiting to read this one was torture, but it was worth the wait because I LOVED every page, every word and every character. Nick has always been my favorite and it was such a thrill reading about him.

Isn't it great that this series keeps you on your toes the whole way through? You just can't decide who's right and who's wrong because the good guys aren't always good and the same goes to those who supposed to be the bad ones.

The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss

Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery
Release Date: May 13rd 2014 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 2, 2014

Synopsis

Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.

But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.

So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.

As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

My Thoughts
I loved Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer, and since this one was written by the same author, I was really excited. She didn't disappoint as The Secrets of Lily Graves was such an intriguing book.

First off, I have to say the title didn't seem to fit the book. The book was amazing all right, but I'm not sure if I had missed anything or there wasn't anything about Lily's secrets. Well, she was observant and knew a lot about people around her, but those were other people's secrets, not hers. Anyway, it wasn't big of a deal.

It started out a little slow, but still pretty nice and not at all boring. The pace did pick up close to the end of the book when finally the murderer was reveal. The twists were great and surprising, but I did, however, know already who killed Erin.

The characters, on the other hand, were well-developed. I loved that each of them had certain personality that differentiated them from the others. It made the book more realistic that way. I loved Matt, Lily and Auntie Boo the most among all the characters. Sara was also a great character.

Overall, I think this book was a real nice young adult suspense. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a nicely-written book with interesting characters and plots that keep you guessing.

Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Juliana Stone
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: May 6th 2014 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: April 1, 2014

Synopsis
One mistake.
 
And everything changes.

For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that…

Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that…

Captivating and hopeful, this achingly poignant novel brings together two lost souls struggling with grief and guilt – looking for acceptance, so they can find forgiveness.

My Thoughts
A book about two broken-soul teenagers, Monroe and Nathan, being tormented by their pasts, trying to find a way to help each other get through it all...

To be honest, even it was not a bad read, there wasn't much about this book that made it special. There are way too many books out there with so much similar plots as this one. I really have no idea how many books I have read that have been about remorseful/broken people helping each other live again, trying to redeem themselves and whatnot. Therefore, I have to say that I wasn't impressed.

It was a decent book, anyway. The characters were nice; though, I wasn't too keen on perfect characters. Based on the descriptions from the book, they both were absolutely perfect, living picture-perfect lives if their broken souls were not mentioned. Hard to say, this is not the only book with perfect characters, so I think I can let that slide.

As for the romance, I don't think I was into that much either. While it was sweet (a little bit cheesy) and all, it felt a little too fast for me. They moved from barely saying more than a few sentences to completely in love in just a few weeks.

The writing and the pace were okay, I guess. It wasn't neither draggy nor too fast-paced. However, the story was not that realistic in my idea, which did disappoint me a little since I was really psyched about reading it.

Burn Out by Kristi Helvig

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Kristi Helvig
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi
Series: Burn Out
Book: 1
Release Date: April 8th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 29, 2014

Synopsis
A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

My Thoughts
More like a 4.5 to me...

One of the most thrilling and unpredictable post-apocalyptic fictions I have ever read. Each scene was so crazy good that it was hard to put down once I started reading this astoundingly well-written book. It was full of suspense and actions I don't know where to start with. A must read for any science fiction fans out there, especially those who love post-apocalyptic fictions.

I was completely in love with the characters because they were complicated. Tora was so feisty that even she was in the toughest situation, she still didn't give in. The other characters, such as Markus, James, Britta and Kale were also such great character, even some of them were so evil I wanted to strangle them.

The plots were creative, well-written and fast-paced. I was amazed by the way the story was told which was so full of surprises and awe-inspiring scenes. The transition from one scene to the next was very nicely executed that it didn't cause me any boredom.

How the book was ending made me want to read the next installment right away. It is hard to predict what will happen next and that makes the wait even harder.

All in all, this is one great book that should not be missed by any science fiction fans or just anyone who wants to read something refreshing and filled with loads of actions and suspense. Kristi Helvig is a debut author that I will keep an eye out for. 

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Jessica Verdi
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: April 1st 2014 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 28, 2014

Synopsis
Lexi has a secret.

She never meant for her mom to find out. And now she's afraid that what's left of her family is going to fall apart for good.

Lexi knows she can fix everything. She can change. She can learn to like boys. New Horizons summer camp has promised to transform her
life, and there's nothing she wants more than to start over.

But sometimes love has its own path...

My Thoughts

More like a 4.5 to me...

To make her recently-widowed mother happy, Lexi agrees to take an 8-week de-gayifying program at a Christian camp. There, she, along with other campers, is "trained" suppress her SSA (Same-Sex Attraction.)

I have read several GLBT books and by far this is one of the best. I did enjoy it more than I had expected. The writing, the characters and the plots were excellent. I have always loved fast paced books and I had no complain about this book on that part.

It started out pretty simple. A little on a lighter side, if you ask me. I found myself laughing at several scenes featuring Matthew, one of the campers. Then as the story progressed, it became very emotional, and I was so furious at what they did to those kids. The most horrifying part was that it wasn't hard to believe it really did - and still does - happen in real life. Being told you are having a disease, an addiction, a demon inside just because you love someone of the same sex is brutal.

The belief that girls and boys should act certain ways was ridiculous. Not every girl likes pink, just as not all boys are sporty. At this de-gayifying camp, the campers were forced into these absurd gender roles and to deny their which irritated me way too much.

In short, this was a great read for me. I loved the characters, especially Matthew. It might not have been all rainbows and sunshine, and I really didn't mind the intense parts of this book. It was simply beautiful. 

Get Happy by Mary Amato

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Mary Amato
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: October 28th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 27, 2014

Synopsis
In this poignant, realistic, contemporary YA by a state master list star, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Gayle Forman, a young songwriter builds a substitute family with her friends in place of the broken family she grew up with.

A hip high school girl who loves music, writes songs, and is desperate for a ukelele, learns to her shock that her father did not abandon her years ago and has been trying to keep in touch. She begins to investigate him, only to discover that he has a new life with a new family, including the perfect stepdaughter, a girl who Minerva despises.

My Thoughts
 
This is a kind of books that will put a smile on your face...

First off, I was so excited to find out that the author of Guitar Notes was going to release another book. I seriously loved that book and am so glad to say that she didn't disappoint with this one either.

I loved that this book was lighthearted, yet emotional at the same time. This book was about a budding songwriter and ukelele lover, Minerva and her discovery of her father. It was a really nice story about friendship and family.

The characters were great with wonderful (& a little silly) personalities. Fin and Minerva were my favorite and I loved their sense of humor.

The plot itself wasn't the most amazing I have ever read, but the writing made it very interesting. I loved the flow and the fast pace that kept me engaged with the story.

Overall, this book was a fun and light read that suitable for people of all ages, but I think younger readers might enjoy it more.

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Authors: Jennifer Mathieu
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: June 3rd 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: February 25th 2014

Synopsis
Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

My Thoughts
                                                    **This may contain some mild spoilers**

In the blink of an eye, Alice went from being a moderately popular girl to a slut. If it wasn't bad enough for her already, Brandon was killed in the car accident, and Alice became a killer slut.

I really, really enjoyed reading this book. Thanks Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read it early. It is definitely a kind of books that I would choose to read.

One thing I liked about this book is the writing itself. It was clear, flowing and very captivating. It wasn't hard to lose myself in the story. The characters were well-developed, and I found myself want to give Alice and Kurt a hug. They were such great characters. Even Kelsie, who was so confusing and mean, made me want to help her through this difficult time.

Since it was told from multiple point of views, I got to see different sides of the story, of how Alice ended up being in this situation in the first place. And it was heartbreaking. Normally, if a book is told from more than 2 point of views, it tends to get confusing and annoying that we have to jump back and forward pointlessly. Well, I'm happy to say that it wasn't the case here.

I wish Alice had done something about it, though. Maybe screamed out loud that it wasn't truth, or admitted that it happened and told them to eff off. The fact that no one did anything made me a little bit frustrated. Still it was a very well-written book.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan

Authors: Andrew Klavan
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery
Release Date: May 1st 2012
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read from January 05 to 06, 2014

Synopsis
Do Right, Fear Nothing.

Sam Hopkins is a good kid who has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Hanging around with car thieves and thugs, Sam knows it's only a matter of time before he makes one bad decision too many and gets into real trouble.
But one day, Sam sees these thugs harassing an eccentric schoolmate named Jennifer. Finding the courage to face the bullies down, Sam loses a bad set of friends and acquires a very strange new one.
Because Jennifer is not just eccentric. To Sam, she seems downright crazy. She has terrifying hallucinations involving demons, the devil, and death. And here's the really crazy part: Sam is beginning to suspect that these visions may actually be prophecies of something terrible that's going to happen very soon. Unless he can stop it.
With no one to believe him, with no one to help him, Sam is now all alone in a race against time. Finding the truth before disaster strikes is going to be both crazy and very, very dangerous.

My Thoughts
This book was amazing! It was fast-paced, well-written, kinda creepy and surprisingly humorous. I liked Sam and his crazy sense of humor. I was a little disappointed in Sam at first when he went with the flow and joined the wrong crowd just because he thought it might boost his coolness level. I loved that he stood up for Jennifer, even when he knew that it would bite him in the butt later.

It didn't make much sense at first. Yes, I enjoyed almost every sense, but sometimes it was a little weird when the devil was mentioned. However, in the end when everything fell into place, I was impressed. It was totally unexpected and I loved it!

I'm pretty sure that I will read more of books written by this author later.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Authors: Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date:  February 21st 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read from January 03 to 04, 2014

Synopsis
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Thoughts
I had no intention to read this book. It didn't sound like the kind of books I would enjoy when I read the synopsis. besides, the cover was a little messy in my opinion and since I am such a cover snob, it didn't catch my interest. In the end, though, I gave in and chose to read it because I was so curious why so many people loved this book this much.

At first, I wasn't impressed. The book was nice, but wasn't that great. I didn't like Aristotle, for the reasons that the boy was so annoying and didn't make much sense, but Dante was great. To be honest, I was thinking of dropping this book quite a few times because the writing kinda gave me a headache. I'm still glad that I didn't otherwise I wouldn't come to the part that blew me away.

I started to enjoy this book in end of part 2. I guess by then I started to get used to the writing and the characters, but Aristotle's attitude still bugged me until almost the end of the book, when he stopped being mad at everything.

Like I had mentioned, I didn't care much about this book at beginning. I just wanted to go get it over with. However, at the story progressed, I almost couldn't believe how emotional this book was. I loved Dante and his weird battle against shoes. And his love for Aristotle. It was just beautiful. Aristotle or Ari, on the other hand, didn't spark my interest, but I really liked what he had done for Dante.

In short, this is one amazing book that will show you friendship, family, love and many other secrets of the universe.

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Authors: Kristin Halbrook
Pages: 306
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Published Date:  January 29th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Will
Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.
Zoe
Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned.
Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.

Favorite Quote
I want you to want someone like me by your side. And I'll do whatever it takes to earn that. ~ Will

Review
It has been months since I read a book that moved me like Nobody But Us. It was just amazingly, brilliantly, beautifully, breathtakingly written. I fell so deeply and desperately in love with both Zoe and Will. For a fifteen-year-old girl, Zoe was so strong and mature. As for Will, even at times he was a hotheaded teenager who loved to solve every problem with his fists, was one of the sweetest fictional guy ever. I felt how seriously in love they both were and understood their decisions. I do not care what other people think about this book. Personally, it is by far one of the best books I have read this year.

I first picked up the book because of its absolutely beautiful cover. Then I was amazed how well written this book actually was.It might not be the first book about teenagers trying to escape cruel reality they were in. There are a lot more written on this topic, yet this book was so much better in so many ways. For one thing, how author intensified the situation both Will and Zoe were in made me unable to put the book down. It started out so simple and carefree. I was happy for them both when they talked about their plan once they arrived Vegas. Then everything just went wrong. They committed crimes and seemed unable to untangle themselves from this mess. My heart ached for them and I could guess how the book might end, but I still hoped for the best.

Speaking for ending, this book ended with a BAM! I loved it despise how hard it had made me cry. I did not think there could be any other way to end the book. It was just perfect. It tore me apart, but it was realistic. It revealed the dark part of the world where people would do anything to survive. Everyone makes mistake (cliché alert), the most important point is to take responsibility for the mistakes you have made.

In short, I was mess after reading this book. Just like real world, it was not always roses and rainbows. If you don't think you can handle all the emotions, you should not read this book. It is best for those who enjoy being on the emotional roller roaster ride!

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Authors: Gena Showalter

Series: White Rabbit Chronicles

Book: 1

Format: 404

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal

Published Date: September 25 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Synopsis

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Review

For some reasons, even I have read hundreds of books already, this book is the third book I have read about zombies. Well, maybe it is not that hard to imagine since I cannot stand zombies - movies or books. They are just too gross!

However, I really liked this book and would recommend it to everyone who just likes me - cannot stand zombies. Maybe it was because this book did not overly descriptive when it came to zombies. The first zombies book I read was so gross that I could not eat anything that day. I guess this one is mild enough for everyone to enjoy. But if you are a huge fan of brain-eating scenes, you might be a bit disappointed.

The cover was what drew my attention in the first place. Oh. Em. Gee!!!! What a cover! It was so beautiful that I had to read the book. To be frank, I was a bit nervous since I have read another version of Alice in Zombieland written Nickolas Cook and I didn't like it even one bit. It was so gruesome and the illustrations were so scary. I didn't finish that book, though. I could not go pass chapter 4.

Back to Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter. What I really liked about it was the characters. Ali was fierce and not at all clumsy. I really like it when the female characters can stand up for themselves and kick some a**. Cole, male leading character, was also fascinating (and scorching hot!). The grandparents were so funny and I loved them dearly, which made me a bit sad at how the book ended. And how could I forget Kat? She was hilarious! I would love to hang out with her.

Another excellent quality of the book is the wording. It is getting pretty difficult to find a decent young adult books that do not contain swear words. I was really happy reading this one and found that the author did not use even a single cuss word. When I was reading it and realized that Cole being a bad, bad boy he was, I thought, here we go again. Cole would drop F-bombs like crazy. But no, not even one and I really appreciated that.