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.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Authors: Colleen Hoover
Genre: New Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 18, 2014

Synopsis
 At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

My Thoughts
This book was PERFECTION. Everything about it was spot on - the cover, the characters, the pace... Pure perfection. I really enjoyed everything about it, even it was so emotional at times that I had to put it down just to get myself together before continue.

The songs made this book even better. It added more emotions that I almost couldn't believe it was possible. I wasn't so sure at first that I needed to get the songs since I'm not usually into listening to music while I read. But then I gave it a try and it was mind-blowing. "Living a Lie" & "Maybe Someday" were my favorites. The others were great too, but these two were the best and I listened to them repeatedly throughout the book.

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.