6.29.2012

Food For Thought: The Small Town Problem (7)

Hey guys! Today i'm going to talk about what I like to call: The Small Town Problem.

Maybe it's just me but when I love reading books about people living in small towns. The small town dynamic is so interesting to me because I live in such a big city (Miami, if you didn't know) and so, it's nice to hear about places where everyone knows each other and you can walk to your nearest grill.

BUT

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My biggest problem when I read YA books that feature small towns is the whole....High School experience there. Mostly the whole hierarchy of High School. I go to a fairly big school. Not as big as some other schools in the area because it's a magnet school (if you don't know what that is, you basically have to apply and then get accepted and placed in the profession you wish to persue be it health, business, fine arts, etc) but there is one "mean girl" in my school.

There is not that ONE GIRL that everyone wants to be and all the guys go out with and is super mean and awful. There is no "popular" clique. There is no group of teenagers that consist of the cheerleaders and football players and they all sit together during lunch and make fun of people. I don't have that and so, I find it kind of ridiculous when it is in every single novel I've read ever. Even in middle school, I didn't have it.

So I'm really curious to see if this actually happens in real life!
So my questions for your guys:

  • Did you have a Novel High School experience? With THE mean girl and everything? Or are you like me?
  • What do you like about Small Town books? What do you hate?
  • Do you want to see more Big City books? 
Happy Reading!

6.27.2012

Pretty Little Liars 3x04: Birds Of A Feather! Let's Talk About It

Hey guys and welcome to another episode of Pretty Little Liars where hopefully something crazy will happen!
  • Man, Aria is being so smart. It's weird but I'm seriously liking it so woo! Dude, how is Lucas not capable of digging up a grave? Did everyone forget about the memorial issue? 
  • Why does everyone think the evil people aren't capable of doing things? THEY ARE QUITE CAPABLE. 
  • What is Jason doing? Oh wow, seriously, a reward for information? That'll work. Okay, seriously, how did A see that ONE FLYER that's right in front of the girls so quickly. If she's way behind them, she must have awesome vision. 
  • I love Spencer's outfit and oh my god, what is Aria wearing to school? That outfit looks like it should be a forty year old woman going out on a date NOT A GIRL GOING TO SCHOOL. 
  • I love Hanna but why is she acting so bitchy to this mean-looking old lady? 
  • Dude, I totally thought this pretentious coffee guy was Toby from a distance. Haha, he's such a douchey boss I love it. 
  • Cousin Maya shows up to the job no one knew Emily had to say that Maya was his favorite cousin or whatever and she's just standing there awkwardly. 
  • Wait so Hanna, you can go see Mona but Kaleb can't go? Also, Kaleb GOD JUST TRUST HER. He's really starting to annoy me because if Hanna thinks it's good to go see Mona, then just let her go see Mona! She needs some closure and you need to get over it. Wow, storm out. Mature. 
  • Oh my god, Aria, get out of your mom's business.
  • Haha, Hanna and Hanna's mom are the best duo ever. "Looks like a grape" is an awesome line. 
  • Again, I love Spencer's outfit. Not so crazy about the knee high socks but I'm usually never a fan of them unless they're combined with boots. Yes, I do realize these recaps are sprinkled with outfit rants; LEAVE ME ALONE.
  • I'm enjoying this Aria and Hanna bonding time. They're so funny and this seems like it's going to end either hilariously bad or REALLY bad. 
  • Now it's time for some reminiscent about Maya, who was awful so I don't really care about this. And now we have a present to Emily from Maya as if this is going to make her look like she was the best girlfriend eva. I think this guy is hitting on Emily? What? 
  • Why is this cop such a douchebag? I actually felt bad for Wren for like two seconds. Only two seconds though. Go be adorable and single and British somewhere else. Oh my god let's not make Wren and Hanna happen please? PLEASE? 
  • I love the moms on this show (not including Spencer's mom, of course). This littlle bonding session is awesome. 
  • Oh wow, Melissa's the Black Swan? NO WAY I HAD NO IDEA WHOA. 
  • Oh my god Melissa put the knife down. OH MY GOD SPENCER WAIT UNTIL THE KNIFE IS GONE. Wow, i'm surprised Melissa just had a crazy crying breakdown. 
  • What...what is Montecito? What am I missing? I don't understand. 
  • Wow, all of the A team seems to have some good "people are after me" alibis. I think she's lying SO BAD. Her face when she was going up the stairs? Please. 
  • Garrett's the dad. Garrett's the dad. Dammit, he's not? Boo. "Like it or not, this is your family"? YEAH WE DON'T LIKE IT. 
  • Dude, Hanna, just TELL HIM. GIVE HIM SOMETHING. Okay Hanna, deep breaths, this is bad. It's been a while since we've a breakup so this is probably overdue for a teen show. Wish it had been Ezra and Aria instead but le sigh (haha, totally kidding except NOT AT ALL). Now I feel like the writers are just doing this to get her with Wren. Which is annoying. 
  • Aw, nice little mother-daughter bonding time. Ew, let's never talk about Aria's dad ever again. Okay? Awesome! 
  • This guy is so suspicious, I don't like him. 
  • Aw, poor Hanna. I like the bonding that's going on between Hanna and Aria in this episode, it's sweet. You usually don't seem any of them just one on one. 
  • Ah, Spencer Jason Weird Half Sibling Moment. Speaking of Spencer, I've gone two episodes without Toby. Why is this? This is wrong. 
  • Who is Jason writing that check to? I couldn't see...and now he's calling someone? Loser. 
  • Why is Spencer walking home alone? Dude, someone is out to get you and it's NIGHT TIME. Stop it. 
This gloved person can't be Lucas. How can Lucas go to CALIFORNIA on a school week? What do you guys think? Is Melissa faking this "threat"? Is Jason stupid? How long can they give us no Toby? Leave a comment down below!
-Harmony 

6.26.2012

"But sometimes we just want to prove that we're not afraid of the dark. Even when we are."


Title: Darkness Before Dawn (DNF REVIEW)
Author: J.A London
Release Date: May 29th, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 342
Edition: Paperback
Cover Judge: Eh, girl in dress paranormal romance-type cover. But i'm a sucker for a black and white cover. 
Quote Choice: I actually LOVED this quote
Note: I don't usually review books I don't finish but since I had plenty to say...yup. This is of course my own 100% opinion so you don't have to listen to me and I did not finish the book. Please take all this into account when reading it.
Source: Review
Goodreads: Link

Only sunlight can save us.
We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.
After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.
Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.


So I'm on Chapter 14 of this book right now and I just...I wanted to write some stuff. Because the book is incredibly predictable and it's boring me. Dawn, our heroine, is the delegate for this dystopian Vampire society. Basically, they signed this treaty where humans have to give their blood to the Vampires and they...well, get to live. And then the leader of the Old Blood Vampires, Valentine, chooses a delegate to come to him with concerns and comments from the humans. When Dawn's parents (who were the delegates) die, Valentine chooses her instead of someone older and more experienced. It's hinted that Dawn has some supernatural thing going on in the prologue but I have no idea what it is yet. I don't not like Dawn, I just think...she's kind of boring. They're trying to make her out to be this very badass character: fighting skills, good with a stake, all this knowledge about vampires, but really all we've seen her do is give information to people who are supposed to be her enemy and not fight. But she's very nice!

Speaking of the people she's giving information to, this book has a case of the instalove problem. Victor is a vampire guys, a vampire. She knows this and she's like: he's my enemy, he could kill me in one blow, he stands for everything that sucks in the universe. But but but he makes her insides melt for some strange reason. They have a connection; she doesn't understand why she feels touched or happy he's happy. And i'm just like: WHY? Okay, it's nice, he saved you from Vampires but dude...you don't even know him. I have no problem with bad boy reform love but I honestly want to see some character development before I see the heroine melting over the bad guy. I imagine that someone's whose parents were killed by Vampires, who has been raised with all this knowledge of Vampires won't just be like: this vampire has been nice to me, so he must be good. Also: Lila may be annoying, but really, that treaty sucks. It doesn't even stop most of the Vampires since the Turned ones aren't under Valentine's control. Problems!

Also: I like Michael. I do, a lot. Michael is her current boyfriend and I can already feel he's going to get thrown to the curb because that's what usually happens. But guys, he's a Night Watchman (they protect the city from the Vampires who sneak in) and he's so sweet and funny and awesome. He's protective of Dawn but not overbearing and is the best. Her best friend Tegan is the stereotypical best friend: flirty, petite, and mostly there for some comic relief.

I'm enjoying the concept of the plot but I'm not too crazy about how it's being executed. The premise reminded me of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (you know, vampire dystopian taking over the world but I haven't read it yet so I might be totally wrong) but I'm just not invested in the characters or the plot at all. I can't really explain why....it's just the way the book is written is not appealing to me. The writing is very simple and i'm the type of person who likes some meat in their Dystopian Fiction. I've heard that it gets really good the last 100 pages but I don't feel like I should have to dig through the first half of the book to get to the good stuff!

But Good Reviews!
Katie's Book Blog
Once Upon A Twilight

Happy Reading!
(and for those of you wondering, I have not stopped doing someecards! It'll come back after the...shift. You'll see)

6.24.2012

Book Hauling It Up { 69 }

Disclaimer is HERE.


For Review:
False Covenant by Ari Marmell
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
The Shadow Society by Marie Rutoski
Outpost by Ann Aguirre
From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Level 2 by Lenore Applehans

Borrowed:
Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick

Happy Reading!

6.22.2012

#FF Follow Friday: New Book Blogs I've Found!

So you guys know what Follow Friday on twitter is, right? Today I decided to write a post showing you guys some of the new blogs I've discovered recently and you know, pimp them and all that good stuff.

Now, I won't lie and say I'm the type of person to seek out new blogs. Bad incidents have made me a suspicious soul of new bloggers but once I decided to stop acting like an elitist and venture out of my hole, I found so many lovely people!

NOTE: not all of these might be new blogs but they are ones I've found recently.

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1. The Book Barbies --
I only know one-half The Book Barbies but Raquel is honestly so funny and lovely. Also their reviews are informative and hilarious.

Novel Sounds






2. Novel Sounds --

AH, I love this blog. They review books AND they give you songs that match the feel of the book. I've found a bunch of new music through this and also their graphics are awesome.






3. The Dancing Reader --
Super nice and really consistent with her awesomeness of her reviews (guys, awesomeness isn't a word right? I think I use it so often Google Chrome doesn't even try to correct me anymore)




4. The Book Basement --

This is actually someone I discovered through Disqus! She would comment regularly and I would see her little purple logo and I like purple so curiousity got the best of me! And i'm so happy I did because she has kind of the same reviewing style as I do and she's also tough enough that I feel I can trust her enough but not SO tough that I'm super annoyed because YOU DON'T LIKE ANYTHING.






And boom! There are some new blogs for you to follow! Check them out and their twitters because they're lovely and I'll see you guys with another segment of YA WATCH tomorrow!
-Harmony

6.21.2012

“I'm simply reminding you that you're worth more than what you'll find at the bottom of a bottle.”

Title: Timepiece (Hourglass #2)
Author: Myra McEntire
Release Date: June 12th, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 336
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: Love, love, love this cover. I hope Myra's publisher makes posters of this one as well so I can get one...lol
Quote Choice: Love this scene
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads: Link

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...
Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?
Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

* THIS IS SPOILER-FREE FOR BOTH TIMEPIECE AND HOURGLASS*

So the problem with reading books really early and pimping it constantly: I forget that I never write a review for it. So, finally, I can write my review for Timepiece by Myra McEntire. And really, guys? Did you think I'd feel anything besides total love for this book?

Timepiece is a companion/sequel to Hourglass so let me run down what that means. It means you do have to read Hourglass to understand WTF is going on. BUT it's not told in Emerson's point of view and runs down a different story line than Hourglass. But I do recommend reading Hourglass because you're going to be so confused about the time travel and the Hourglass Society and just..do it. You'll love it. And then come back. Timepiece is about Kaleb, a character you met in Hourglass as a hard-ass hot guy with a thing for Emerson and the supernatural ability of extreme empathy.

Kaleb may be riddled in tattoos and a flirt, but he's also a sweetheart. In Hourglass, we see him as a hot mess. He's a nice guy with a bad boy reputation because he goes out and gets smashed and Michael always has to get him out of trouble. In Timepiece, we really get to dig deeper and see why Kaleb is how he is and how difficult it must be for him to constantly be dealing with other people's emotions while at the same time trying to sort out his own. The plot line takes a step back from time travel and into Kaleb using other means to try and figure out how to find Jack on his own (well..with a little help) and put a stop to him. Speaking of help!

Lily is fierce, spunky, and loyal. I've loved her since the first book, I loved her even more when Myra told me I sounded like her (I want to point out that Lily is Cuban American and i'm Cuban American so that's why! Haha), and this just enhanced it for me. We don't get to see too much of Lily since she's not very aware of what's going on in Hourglass but she's in the middle of the action here. In Hourglass you figure out Lily is no ordinary girl and her ability was pretty freaking fantastic when it came to finding Jack and the people after the mysterious Infinity Glass.

Em and Michael are both very present in this book which I hadn't been expecting (I don't know why I wasn't because Michael his best friend and the story is still pretty centered around Em) and they are lovely as always. You definitely see a different side to Emerson after everything that happened in the last book (especially the ending) takes it's toll on her and Michael is an amazing boyfriend. BUT something I loved is that now that we're in Kaleb's head, Michael is no longer the love interest and so, we get to see the resentment Kaleb holds for him and why their relationship is rocky sometimes.

And of course, Myra's writing is amazing. She manages to blend suspense and wit in a way that makes me totally jealous and I can't wait for the next book!
Happy Reading!

6.20.2012

Pretty Little Liars 3x03: Kingdom Of The Blind! Let's Talk About It

Hey everybody, it's time for shirtless boys, crazy killers, and possibly dumb ideas! That's right: Pretty Little Liars!


  • Yeah guys, just STARE AT THE GIRL WHO CAN SEE. 
  • Wow, Lucas doesn't look cute anymore. Now he looks like a homeless psycho. Whoa, impacting isn't a word? Huh, I suppose it isn't. WHOA LUCAS FIRE IN SCHOOL IS WRONG. 
  • Why is Hanna wearing this hat? She looks quite...urban. But hehe, "he's a sour-patch kid". Weren't Kaleb and Lucas best friends? WAIT A MINUTE. Kaleb would always stay at Lucas' house when he was here in Rosewood so...where's he staying now? Because he's not staying at Hanna's. 
  • Wow, yeah Aria, play it cool. God, she's such a bad liar. Jemma totally knows. Wow, Jemma, "look it in the eye". Subtle. 
  • Haha, everyone is so funny at this table but Emily. I'm actually loving Aria this season, let's keep it up! And then they're all adorable with a retelling of "knocking over a bee hive."
  • Whoa, Emily got a 94 on the test! But impossible! She didn't even finish! Duh, Ms.Aria changed your grade because you're her daughter's friend. Who cares about teacher integrity and honesty? Pfft.
  • Dude, Emily, calm down. YOU ARE PARANOID. You've always been the most paranoid of the group. 
  • Lucas is actually funny but no longer in an adorable way. In a really cynical, wary way. Which is still funny but not my Lucas! Kaleb being all tough guy on him is funny. Now Lucas is being really cryptic and I kind of want Kaleb to punch him in the face. 
  • So on another note, i'm at an impasse. I want Kaleb to cut his hair but i'm worried he will no longer look cute without it. But he is being kind of a douchewad lately so maybe it won't matter?
  • WHOA WHOA WHOA. What is Emily wearing to school? That is not appropriate for school
  • HEY, look! It's the doctor from The Vampire Diaries! I mean, Melissa. Oh whoa, I love Spencer's outfit. I have a fondness for Maxi dresses but i'm really short (5ft 2 1/2) so it's hard to find cute ones for me. Boo. 
  • Mrs.Spencer is now announcing her defense of Garrett and Spencer is pissed. But...doesn't Spencer think that Garrett didn't kill Allison as well? But...huh. Man, Spencer looks pretty. Jealous of her outfit. ANYWAY. 
  • God, what is her mom hiding? This makes no sense. Wow, Melissa, you're such a good sister.
  • Eh, now it's a scene of Emily and Aria trying to be badass. 
  • WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT, wasn't Melissa pregnant? Did she lose the baby? She did, right? And wow, Spencer is laying on the facts! Oh man, she did lose her baby, that sucks.  
  • Since when does Aria play the keyboard? Does anyone remember this being somewhere else? 
  • God, this Jenna/Aria scene is creepy. Well, I think Jenna is creepy in general. No way Jenna would let Aria stay alone in her room if she had something super secret hidden. Unless she's dumb. 
  • I thought the idea that Garrett and Melissa got together was obvious. But whoa, maybe Garrett is Melissa baby daddy. THAT MAKES SENSE.
  • Oh here is our daily allotted time of Aria and Ezra. Yay. I'm typing instead of looking, lol.
  • HAHAHAHA, crazy Mona sounds crazy. I love it. I kind of want to see Mona's actress in other places because I like her. "You can't trust anyone, not even family." WHOA, subtle jab there?
  • Lucas is coming to visit? I'm not surprise if he comes often...hmm. MYSTERIOUS.
  • Oops, all of the Hanna secrets are coming out to Kaleb. Man, Lucas is smart. THAT'S WHAT I THINK TO. Mona might totally be faking.
  • Oh look, a commercial for Spiderman! I'm super excited for this movie, I love Spiderman. And Emma Stone. And Andrew Garfield. Yum. 
  • Spencer is pretending to be Melissa and WHOA MAYBE MELISSA WASN'T EVEN PREGNANT. 
  • Whoa, this guy is stupid. Spencer sounds so confused and he's just feeding her information? This doesn't sound like a good idea.
  • Ahahaha, Ezra saves the day, woo. Sorry guys, i'm being mean because I don't like him. 
  • WHOA JENNA IS DRIVING. How long was she blind? Don't you like...forget how to drive well and you have to reinstate your license? 
  • What is Hanna wearing in this scene? I can't decide whether or not I like it. Huh. And man, she's gonna confront Jenna straight up! DAMN STRAIGHT.
  • Wow, Kaleb is visiting Mona. Supposedly "to get answers". I love how he goes to everyone and is like: DON'T MESS WITH HANNA. People messing with Hanna anyway, hun. 
  • CRAZY MONA CRAZY! I love it. Adds a touch of insanity we haven't seen since the creepy doll episode on this show.
  • And now it's time to interrogate Jenna. Man...I kind of feel bad for Jenna. She's a convincing actress, because I can't tell whether or not the threat towards her is real or if SHE is the threat. A little bit of both I think. 
  • SHE WAS FAKING! Man, Spencer, your family is so twisted. 
  • But Emily, you're acting like you're made out of glass. YOU WALKED OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DRUNK. But you're getting better, I like this.
  • YAY MORE CREEPY MONA. 
  • HE KEEPS HIS LIQUOR WITH ALISON'S BODY. God, Gloved Creep, so creepy. 

All in all, this episode was pretty boring. Maybe i'm just used to things constantly happening and being revealing in episodes (The Vampire Diaries spoils me.) But what did you guys think?
Happy Watching!

6.19.2012

Food For Thought: Let's All Cry Together (6)

Wow, that title might scare some of you away! But I wanted to talk about Books That Make You Cry. Those book that make you sad or devastated because of their sheer brilliance or emotion.

Do I love them?


Of course! Considering my review yesterday was for Code Name Verity and I cried three times reading that book, I love it. A book that can make me cry is a book that is powerful and emotional.

BUT I know that some people don't like reading books that they know will be sad or will make them cry. And I've always wondered: why? I'm someone who doesn't mind having a good cry. Or at least, i'm someone who isn't afraid of reading a book that will wreak me because there's something thrilling and beautiful about having an emotional connection on that level with a book. It's the kind of books that you don't forget about!

But as always with these posts, I want to know about you guys. Do you like crying or being sad because of books? Do you crave it?
And if not, why don't you like reading sad books?

Happy Reading!

6.18.2012

“KISS ME, HARDY! Kiss me, QUICK!”


Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Release Date: May 15th, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 452
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: Absolutely heart-breaking and edgy; love it. AND THE ROPE. And the writing. And gah.
Quote Choice: *ugly sobbing*
Source: Bought
Goodreads: Link

Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?


It's not often I come towards the problem of not being able to write a review not because it was so bad or because I can't think of what to say but because I have so much to say and I just don't know how to say it.

Code Name Verity is a literary masterpiece.

Let's start there. Code Name Verity is about a girl spy who is captured by the Gestapo during WWII and agrees to give them all sorts of secret spy military information in exchange for something simple -- time. So she gets an endless supply of paper (but not an endless supply of time, alas) and a pen to write down her story. And god, does she write down a story. Instead of writing down mindless facts like they thought she would, she weaves the story into how she met her best friend (and the pilot who dropped her off for the mission she got caught on) and tells it in the point of view of her -- Maddie. Here she litters the fact the Gestapo desires along with a heart-warming tale of how Maddie made her life in the Air Force from becoming a pilot that first day to becoming operational.

I can't say much about part one without giving things away. Like Von Linden told her, Verity is amazing at suspense and foreshadowing throughout her letters and while they may be information-heavy, her bite and humor (and heart, really) never made me bored or uninterested. Before we move on to part two, god, does Wein know how to write a good historical. In the Author Note she states that while not everything she wrote is truth (of course, considering she's writing about secret government intel), there will always be a sense of plausibility. And it is so true! I felt like I was actually reading all these crazy government secrets and methods and so, everything felt incredibly authentic to me because it was!

And then we have part two. Where Part One stuns you with fabulous writing and wit, Part Two hits you in the face with it. Because Part Two is told in Maddie's point of view and everything you read in Part One just....unravels. I'm being so serious. I really liked the book reading Part One; I am in total awe of Part Two. I can't say too much because everything that made me gasp and shriek and cry are things that happened in Part One weaving itself together with Part Two but trust me when I say that your heart will wrench and you will cry. But you will also be in complete love with the brilliance that is Elizabeth Wein.

Every character in this book is brilliant. Even though Verity never moves from her cold cell through all of part one (with some very small exceptions), the character development she shows you from the beginning of the letters to the end is amazing. Watching her introspect her old self and her relationship with Maddie was lovely. And Maddie was lovely. I wanted to give her a giant hug. Characters like Engel, Jamie, Dympana, secondary characters that sneak their way into my heart, especially in Part Two. And then god, Von Linden. Heartless Jerry Bastard is what you think of him most of the time but by god, I loved his character.

Overall, an astounding read that I recommend to everyone; even if it's just to learn just how amazingly you can make plot lines weaves together.

Happy Reading!

6.17.2012

YA WATCH (6/3 - 6/17)

So remember back in the day when I used to do YA WATCH? If you're new around here, YA WATCH was a feature where I showcased all the new reveals that happen around the publishing industry so you don't have to be running around for all types of new information!

I stopped doing it due to some discouraging events but now I am so pumped to start doing it again! It not only helps you guys be up to date, but helps me be up to date! And so, here we go!


6.16.2012

"History does not care about the suffering of the individual. Only the outcome of their struggles."


Title: Eona (Eon #2))
Author: Alison Goodman
Release Date: April 19th, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 637
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: just...plain badass.
Quote Choice: True words and a testament to her good writing.
Source: Bought
Goodreads: Link

Finally able to embrace her true identity, Eona has already won a massive personal victory. However, a major battle still rages for control of the empire. After slaughtering his own family, High Lord Sethon has seized the throne. Left unstopped, his relentless ambition would leave the whole country in ruins.
Although she is new to her powers, Eona is now the resistance's only hope. She must learn to harness the mysterious strength of her Mirror Dragon if Emperor Kygo is to claim back his kingdom. Yet knowledge comes at a price. Who can she trust, and how long can she resist the terrible truth of her ancestor's prophecy?


Eona isn't the kind of book you can just dive into a review for and so, a while after I finished it, I am finally writing it.

Eona as a person has really changed from book one to book two. Gone is a someone who feels small when it comes to making their own decisions. Instead we get powerful Eona, who gets caught in a web of lies that is incredibly big and strong.  Not only does Eona have the weight of the world on her shoulders, she also has ten dragons trying to get into her and her mirror dragon is nowhere to be seen.

The plot mostly consists of running away from Sethon because he is evil and trying to take over everything. The plot also mostly revolves around the lies Eona tells because she thinks she was in the right which was both frustrating and intriguing to me at the same time. It didn't make her like Eona because she becomes somewhat cruel in the way she treats her friends because she always thinks she's in the right and she isn't someone I, personally, would want to be friends with. But sometimes reading isn't always about liking the characters you're reading about and hating Eona sometimes didn't make me want to stop reading the book.

And then we finally have some romance doing on in this sequel! Not enough that it completely detaches from the story but Goodman manages to attach it in such a natural way it seems like there was no other option than the way it was going. There are actually two options for Eona (yes, a love triangle) but it's not in the way you would think. Kygo, the crown prince of the nation that is now on the run from his uncle, is the person she loves. Their dynamic throughout the story was interesting and slightly heart-breaking but then you have Ido and how anyone could prefer him over Kygo is beyond me. With Ido and Eona, it's not love, it's power. It's Ido constantly enticing her with the idea that she could have the world in the palm of her hands, that she could tap into power so strong, but she can only do it with her help. It's the tug of having healed him (and her healing has some...connecting problems that come with it) and the fact that what they can create together is strong (and dangerous and deadly and destructive).

Finally, I have to praise Goodman's writing because it is fantastic. As always, the book is huge so naturally there are some slow parts but she writes some amazing high-fantasy.

Happy Reading!

6.13.2012

Pretty Little Liars 3x02: Blood Is The New Black! Let's Talk About It

Alright! Let's do this!


  • Someone pointed out to me that Garrett is the jerky pop singer from Pretty Little Liars and now I can't stop thinking about it! Jeez! 
  • Wow, TV shows always do that thing where whatever they're reading in class has to do with what's going on in their lives at the moment. THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ME. Also: Aria's mom seems like a boring teacher. 
  • Dude, did they all just run out of class? I get that it's Aria's mom but STILL.
  • Aria...is being the voice of reason? That's weird, i'm not used to this. 
  • Their school has those toilets that flush by themselves? Wow, fancy. 
  • Oh hi, Jenna. You were strangely absent from the last episode but I guess now's the time to get your creepy vague messages on. Wow Jenna, it's funny seeing her crash into people knowing she can see. Also: they seriously think Mona's the mastermind behind them? She may be the brains but she's not the leader of the show.
  • Dude, why doesn't Hanna just tell Kaleb where she's going? There's really no need for secrets between them anymore. 
  • Oh my god Aria. Did you just offer your illegal boyfriend to tutor Emily? You're the queen of  awkward. No. Just get Spencer to tutor you, she's the genius! 
  • Oh ew, we're bringing Meredith back? I don't like her but she has nice hair.
  • Oh right Aria, how ridiculious of your parents not to love your illegal boyfriend and embrace the two of you with open arms. Shut up, what the hell did you expect? 
  • Right, medical records...is Garrett trying to say Wren is part of the A Team? THAT MAKES SENSE. Or just..Jenna? How boring. 
  • Oh my god, super awkward. Emily and Ezra. SO AWKWARD. Aria sucks. 
  • Wren, shut up. No amount of tortured past and nice accent will make me like you. But god, that's a nice accent. Also Wren, you're not a psychologist, you're a doctor. 
  • TOBY YAY. Oh shit, sexy times? Apparently! Oh Toby. I would like to point out though, THAT YOU ARE IN THE LIVING ROOM. PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
  • Oop, flashback. Ali is funny but also a bitch. Also: goth Aria looks so young. 
  • Oh crap! And dude, they had a total crazy-party in her dad's office. Why didn't anyone mention that when Meredith and her dad broke up? 
  • WHAT the hell is Aria wearing? Jesus. I actually like Hanna's new hair, popular to contrary belief. 
  • Dude, Kaleb totally knows something is up. Why? Because Kaleb is not stupid. 
  • I can tell Spencer's mom cares, but she could be a little nicer about it. 
  • Aw Kaleb. Aw, I like you. They better not be trying to set up a thing between Hanna and Wren because...no. Not even the suspense of something outside Aria's window can take my attention away from her outfit. 
  • Oh my god Byron, don't act like that woman's a saint. She slept with a married man. YOU. Excuse me? Aria doesn't owe her anything.
  • Spencer's hair looks nice and i'm happy for the amount of Toby in this episode. Also: duh Jenna can see. She WAS ARRANGING THE PEANUTS IN CIRCLES.
  • Wow Meredith, I really hate you. Sorry. Oh boo freaking hoo Meredith, shut up. As if you're the victim. SHE IS SUCH AN AWFUL PERSON.
  • OH MY GOD HOW MANY LOVERS DID HER DAD HAVE? 
  • Oh dude, I knew Kaleb was gonna find out because of Wren. WREN: the ruiner of everything. 
  • Wow, Garrett, you sat down just to leave? Douche. Uh oh, dark school? Okay questions:
    TEACHERS WHO READ MY BLOG: do you actually stay at school after dark? Really?
  • Mona. Is. So. Creepy.
  • Oh my god, Spencer and Hanna LOL. They have a great dynamic and we don't get to see it enough. Who fills up their water bottle at the sink? Don't they have water fountains? 
  • Oh my god lulz, the creepy end scene is Evil Dude shopping for hoodies? I'm terrified. 
What do you guys think? How is Kaleb going to react? What is their plan for Mona? How sucky are Wren and Meredith? TELL ME! 
Happy Reading!

6.12.2012

Top Ten Tuesday + Tune In Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jamie over at The Broke And The Bookish and this week topic is: 

TOP TEN SUMMER BEACH READS

1. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray -- a social commentary as well as a book that takes place on a desert  island.

2. Epic Fail by Clarie LeZebnik -- something cute, fun, and a P&P retelling!

3. When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle -- a little bit of heartbreak and a little bit of humor.

4. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows -- I think this book is deep enough that you won't be bored but fun enough that you won't become depressed or upset while you're catching some sun.

5. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez -- this book includes a great heroine, some major swoonage, and a music competition!

6. Between The Sea and Sky by Jacklyn Delamore -- as always, I have to include a high fantasy recommendation! It's very short and light for a High Fantasy book so I had to include it!

7. Die For Me by Amy Plum -- a very awesome plot with a very light-hearted voice

8. Anything Sarah Dessen -- because when I think summer reads, I think contemporary! And who is the queen of contemporary?

9. Timeless by Alexandra Monir -- loved this book! it's cute but also intriguing and it's about time travel!

10. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver -- I picked this one instead of Delirium because Delirium is an intense read when you're looking for something a little more light. Before I Fall still holds the same emotional and literary value as goes with Oliver's work but it's something you can put down and pick back up again.


Tune In Tuesday is hosted by Ginger over at G Reads and it's basically a meme that lets you showcase music on your blog!

So i'm one of those CRAZY people that love dubstep and this has basically been on repeat on my ipod when i'm at the beach (which guys, I live in Miami, that's often)


Happy Reading!

6.11.2012

Spoiler-Free Sequel Mini-Reviews: Pandemonium & Spellbound



Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Publisher: Harperteen
Pages: 375
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: It's nice, still sad my Delirium doesn't match though
Quote Choice (Down Below): THIS WAS SO HARD. Lauren Oliver is honestly one of my favorite writers of all time. Not just author, writer. Her writing speaks to my soul in the way of very few writers can.
Source: Bought
Goodreads: Link

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.The old life is dead.But the old Lena is dead too.I buried her.I left her beyond a fence,behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Oh, Lauren Oliver, how you mess with my heart! Pandemonium was an amazing, amazing sequel to Delirium and the stakes are so much higher. Oliver takes us outside of the city and into the wilderness which had this crazy starkness to it that I adored. You're shown two halfs of Lena's life: Before and After. Before is when she's in the wilderness, training and learning how to become a rebel and a warrior and this is where her character really grows. The wilderness is no joke guys and it's full of blood and rebels and training montages and badassery! And then After is when Lena is infiltrating this organization that promotes awareness of Deliria and advises on vaccinating early and ends up being kidnapped with the poster boy of the company: Julian. Oh Julian, be still my beating heart. I thought my heart would always belong to Alex but guys, I was dead wrong. Julian is quiet and benign where Alex was fierce and passionate and it's a contrast that shifts well in response to Lena's personal growth throughout the book.

The people who had a problem with Delirium being a tad slow will not find that problem in this book! Everything is fast-paced and pumping, even the quiet, heart-breaking scenes that happen during Before. There was never a moment that I felt I could put the book down and her writing just makes everything so much better. There is not a line in there that is not beautiful, well-written, and absolutely lovely.

“Grief is like sinking, like being buried. I am in water the tawny color of kicked-up dirt. Every breath is full of choking. There is nothing to hold on to, no sides, no way to claw myself up. There is nothing to do but let go.

Let go. Feel the weight all around you, feel the squeezing of your lungs, the slow, low pressure. Let yourself go deeper. There is nothing but bottom. There is nothing but the taste of metal, and the echoes of old things, and the days that look like darkness.” 



Title: Spellbound
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 205
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: It matches! Which is cute. But what up with the purple water?
Quote Choice (Down Below): So. Funny.
Source: Bought
Goodreads: Link


Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.
Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

How does Rachel Hawkins manage to write funny, heartfelt, and kickass heroines all at the same time? Hawkins is honestly the funniest writer I know and she doesn't disappoint with the final book in the Hex Hall trilogy! Sophie Mercer is back and even more hilarious and badass! You don't even get a moment to rest before you're slammed with revealed secrets and this urgent race to find out whose alive after the crazy battle that ended Demonglass. Hawkins manages to capture a perfect teenage voice that is both snarky and authentic. Sophie may be a sarcastic witch but she's also just a kid thrust into this crazy demon war.

The plot in this book is crazy! You're taken back into the depths of Hex Hall and things are a lot more sinister than when you were first there in book one. There's never a dull moment while reading these books and I think that's my favorite part! There's always something to do, something to find, someone to get. You're never just sitting back and reading a boring conversation because everyone is so amusing and awesome.

Speaking of awesome and amusing, I adore Archer and Sophie's relationship. Their relationship is a bright spot among all the darker things that happen throughout the novel and their witty banter is something that I've come to crave. They just go so well together and even if I do love, love Cal, they are my one true pairing for this series.

One thing I could say I didn't like was towards the end, there's this really big scene that wasn't further explored within the book? It was like: we did it, it happened, let's get on with our lives. AND I WAS LIKE WUT? But at the same time I do know that Rachel is doing a spin-off of the books so maybe our questions will be answered then? We'll see! I also like that not everyone went unscathed, as awful as that sounds. People are lost and the proper grief is shown because of it (maybe it's just my bitterness at Mockingjay).

“Um…Mercer? Haven’t seen you in nearly a month. I was expecting something like, ‘Oh, Cross, love of my heart, fire of my loins, how I’ve longed—’”

“You’re dead,” I blurted out, pressing a hand against my stomach. “You’re a ghost, and you think—”
All the humor disappeared from his face, and he held up both hands. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not dead. Promise.”
My heart was still hammering. “Then what the heck are you?”
Archer almost looked sheepish as he reached inside his shirt and pulled out some kind of amulet on a thin silver chain. “It’s a speaking stone. Lets you appear to people kind of like a hologram. You know. ‘Help me, Sophie-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.’”
“Did you steal it from the cellar at Hecate, too?” Archer had collected all sorts of magical knickknacks back when we had cellar duty at Hex Hall.
“No,” he said, offended. “I found it at a…store. For magical stuff. Okay, yes, I stole it from the cellar.”

Happy Reading!

6.10.2012

Book Hauling It Up { 68 }

Disclaimer is HERE.


For Review:
Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin
Insignia by S.J Kincaid
Drain You by M. Beth Bloom
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
School's Out -- Forever by James Patterson
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
The Final Warning by James Patterson
Max by James Patterson
Fang by James Patterson
Angel by James Patterson
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkman

Bought:
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Gifted:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Hamlet by Shakespeare

Happy Reading! What did YOU get?

6.09.2012

Interview: Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas

Hey guys! Today I have two lovely guests: Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, the authors of a recent released titled FROM WHAT I REMEMBER. The book's summary will be below the interview and let's do this!

_________________________________________________________________________________


1.    If you could live with three YA characters (not your own) in a house, who would they be?


Wow, what a crazy notion, all in one house. We kind of love the idea of this now that you mentioned it. After talking it over and mulling waaaaay too many options (it was a difficult choice, so many great characters to choose) we narrowed it down to Katniss from THE HUNGER GAMES, Augustus from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, and Samantha from BEFORE I FALL. We think it would make for a fascinating household with some fabulous dinner conversation. They are all vastly different characters and either we’d have a blast together or we’d end up in a massive brawl. If we got really out of line, Katniss would impale us to a tree. Either way it would be interesting.


2.      Which character is most like you? Least?

VALERIE: Kylie is the most like me in FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, in that she’s a funny mix of brainy, insecure, and fierce. I wasn’t as outcasted as she is in high school, but I had a mix of nerdiness and strength that was both a blessing and a bane. I am least like Max in that he seems to glide through life without thinking about every little thing, all the time. I wish I could do this more, but alas, I ruminate and overthink far too much.

STACY: I’m a little bit Kylie and a little bit Lily, which is, I know, an odd combination. But it’s who I am, for better or for worse. I’m cerebral. I overthink everything, like Kylie. I was obsessed with movies from a young age and can have a bit of a temper. But, embarrassingly, like Lily, I was a bit of a mean girl in middle school and ruled with an iron fist so I both know where she’s coming from and sort of despise her at the same time. Like Val, I am the least like Max. He’s far sportier and more carefree than I could ever be. As you can see, our answers are pretty similar, which is why we make good writing partners. It’s like one voice, with two heads (but I digress…).

3.     What’s your favorite Disney Movie?

VALERIE: When I was little my favorite Disney movie was FANTASIA. Then I had a daughter and started watching all the other Disney movies with her and I fell in love with a lot of them – SLEEPING BEAUTY, SNOW WHITE. But I still love FANTASIA, there’s just nothing out there like it.

STACY:  Oddly, I was never the biggest fan of animated Disney movies. From a very young age, I preferred live action to cartoons. I would have to say my favorite Disney movie, and this is digging deep (I’m going into the waaaaay back machine and pulling this one out from somewhere in the recesses of my brain) is SUPERDAD. It’s an early Kurt Russell movie about a helicopter parent (before the term helicopter parenting was even termed). I watched it over and over again as a kid. I loved it. In fact, now that I think about it, I’m curious to watch it again, some thirty years later and see how it holds up. I’m going to see if I can get a copy to show my kids.

4.    How is it writing with another person? Do you alternate chapters or everything just ends up blending together?

We love working together. As already previously mentioned, because our sensibilities are so similar it’s like one person with two heads (well, not really, but you get the idea). It’s fun to collaborate. We’re not alone in the battle, and, as a result, the work benefits from two points of view. We’ve been working together for a long time, and we are good friends, so we’ve managed to forge a very successful partnership, but, don’t misunderstand, it definitely takes work and compromise, just like any relationship. We respect each other a lot, which allows us to be honest and candid, without being petty or ego-driven. We spend a lot of time brainstorming together about storylines and character, but when it comes time to actually write, we go off to our own corners and write alone. One of us will write a few chapters and then pass that chunk back to the other for rewriting. And then we switch, over and over and over and over again, until things are good enough to at least let our agent take a look. And then, we usually go back in and repeat the whole process before handing it in to our editor. What’s great about this method is that it allows us both to write, alone, but whenever there is a problem or an issue, we can pick up the phone and hash it out. It’s the perfect mix. We’re alone but never lonely.  

_________________________________________________________________________________

KYLIE: Tijuana WHAT? I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY, and is this a wedding band on my finger. 
MAX: It all started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics. Okay, it was kind of hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded in Tijuana. With less than twenty-four hours before graduation. Awesome.

WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring their passports across the border -- but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started.

LILY: I just walked in on my boyfriend, Max Langston, canoodling with Kylie Flores, freak of the century. Still, I can't completely hold it against him. He NEEDS me. It's even clearer now. And I'm not giving him up without a fight.

Happy reading, guys! And thank you for stopping by!

6.06.2012

Pretty Little Liars 3x01: It Happened That Night? Let's Talk About It!


Pretty Little Liars is back! And like I promised in my recap for Vampire Diaries, i'm going to be doing it! Let's start!

  • Emily was building houses for people in Haiti? Jesus, that's pretty awesome. From this group, I am Hanna, lol. 
  • Oh my god they should never let Emily drink again. Some people streak, some people have sex, EMILY DIGS UP GRAVES. And she doesn't remember? And creepy noises? CRAP. 
  • I'm pretty sure a jacket doesn't completely wipe prints...but at the same time, these don't look like the kind of girls that watch NCIS. 
  • LUCAS! Aw, I remember when I used to like you because you were adorable but now you're kind of crazy. Like seriously, I never wanted him with Hanna but SO CUTE. 
  • Spencer is a beast, guys. Seriously, she's so good under pressure. She burned everything, wrote a note, handled everything. They're getting really good at covering their tracks. 
  • Side note: I love everyone's new haircuts. Spencer's hair looks awesome, Aria looks great with shorter hair and so does Hanna! 
  • Oh ew, Ezra and Aria. I know, i'm one of those few people that don't like them. It's not because of the fact it's a taboo relationship and more that they both annoy me. Aria's been good so far but she was so annoying during this past season. And Ezra is just...dumb. I loved Holden. Where's Holden?
  • I love the Hanna/Mom relationship. They have the best mother-daughter relationship of the bunch and it's fun. And oop, Spencer's mom comes in to suck the fun out of everything. She's such a fun-sucker. 
  • TOBY MENTION. I love Toby and Spencer; they're my favorite couple. And yeah, Spencer is my favorite character; she's hilarious!
  • Aw, Emily's mom is cool too but she was absent from most of season two so now I must reevaluate this. But she's an awesome mom from recent events. 
  • Hanna's visiting Mona in the hospital? Shit. She's a good friend but Hanna, love, Mona is cray. 
  • Oh my god, Wren still here? And still pretentious? TALK IN ENGLISH WREN. God, I hate Wren. Probably only because he tried to get in the way of Toby and Spencer which is a no-go in my book. 
  • Oh hello Toby. Hello, Toby's abs. Aw, Toby is so sweet, man. 
  • What's up with these unknown calls Spencer's been getting? Also: Spencer's Voldemort reference was awesome. 
  • Aria has a panic attack in the bathroom because someone came inside from what I understand. Are people not allowed to go into the bathroom anymore? But I understand why she's freaking.
  • Emily and Toby friendship time! They're a good pair of friends so go them.
  • WHAT IS GOING ON WITH SPENCER? SHE ANSWERED THE CALL. If she's now on the A team or something, I'll throw a fit. I want to say: Thank god it's just Garrett. But I hate Garrett. I never understood why everyone was alright with him having a relationship with underaged Jenna but then Aria has a relationship with underaged Ezra and everyone is like YOU SHALL BE ARRESTED. Garrett's a cop, guys!
  • Oh look, Mona is hallucinating. Awesome. That girl is so crazy I can't even but at least she actually smiled at Hanna? Progress? GET AWAY FROM HER HANNA. 
  • And now everyone has started making revelations. Hanna admits to going to see Mona and now Spencer is showing them that she has been recreating the room because they lied to Emily when they said they cleared it out themselves. Turns out: DUN DUN DUN. It was already empty! So they finally realized A is not only one person? Stop being so behind guys. And can we stop suspecting Melissa? She couldn't have been the Black Swan SHE'S PREGNANT! 
  • Oh my god, the car doors are open. And wow, look at that. A TON OF PHOTOS SO CREEPY.
What did you guys think of this episode? I thought it was alright; not as whoa crazy as some other episodes but a good start to the season! Which is your favorite couple? Liar? Do you think Mona is still doing stuff from inside her crazy room? Does Garrett really know anything? Comment!

“Just seeing other people, people getting on with their normal lives, is such a hard thing after you've lost someone so close to you.”


Title: Breaking Beautiful
Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 354
Edition: Hardcover
Cover Judge: I like it! And I'm pretty sure it was her husband that did the cover photography? Awesome
Quote Choice: Quite true.
Source: For Review
Goodreads: Link

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.


I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I did but I was so surprised at how masterfully Wolf portrayed this sad, bittersweet story.

Breaking Beautiful revolves around Allie and the fact her boyfriend has just recently died in a car accident. The problem is: she was in the car as well but she has absolutely no memory of that night. People keep questioning her but she honestly has no idea what happened and if she does, she's blocking it out. More and more comes to the surface was you realize Allie and Trip's relationship was far, far less than perfect (i.e terrifying) and Blake, her old best friend before her life became consumed by Trip, reappears in her life. Allie was such a broken character done so well, in my opinion. Wolf managed to portray a girl not only plagued by insecurity from an abusive relationship but also just a teenage girl trying to make her way through the world. Allie's mixture of confusion, depression, and relief that follow Trip's death rang true to me even though I've obviously never been in that situation before.

My one problem was probably that this book suffered from STMEM-itis (small towns make me mad). I really don't like books with THESE kinds of small towns. You know the ones I'm talking about: the entire place is full of jerks, everyone knows everything or thinks they know everyone, everyone is so damn judgemental. I seriously just wanted to slap everyone in the face. Allie's mom, James, Trip's dad, Hannah! The only people that weren't main characters that I liked was Angie because she was fun albeit ditsy and tactless and Caitlyn, because she was lovely.

Considering Trip is dead, you only see him through flashbacks. And it's not like Trip is portrayed immediately in a negative light; actually, on the contrary. You see sweet Trip, you see good memories, and then you see this dark storm raging and Trip slowly but surely becomes this twisted, awful person and I absolutely hated him with every fiber of my being. Abusive relationships are something very touchy to write about and Wolf just had an honesty to her that I appreciated. I wanted to shake Allie for being with him for so long but I saw the loneliness in Allie and why she was so willing to stay with him.

Blake was a sweetheart, seriously. Their ensuing relationship was endearing and slow, a build-up I was happy for amongst the terrible parts. Overall, it's a dramatic and honest debut contemporary that I definitely recommend.

Happy Reading!

MY THOUGHTS ON AN E-CARD:

someecards.com - Round of applause for actually catching me by surprise with who the killer was!

6.04.2012

A Show You Must Watch: Jane By Design (3)

So guess what! Saturday afternoon I was super bored and tired after a party and decided to browse the On Demand shows uverse has. And that is how I ended up finding Jane By Design, a show that launched recently on ABC family and is returning this Tuesday. AND THIS IS HOW I ENDED UP LOVING IT.

From left to right: Lulu, Nick, Ben, Billy, Jane, Gray, Jeremy, India


The story revolves around a girl named Jane whose your typical OT* and she's only got one friend, Billy (WHO I WILL GET TO LATER). But then she gets news about this amazing internship going on at a fashion designer's and she loves fashion (seriously, she dresses amazingly) and so, she applies! But she accidently ends up going in for a different Jane and landing the job of executive assistant to the brand's iron fist, Gray. The only problem? They also think she's in her 20-somethings. So the show progresses with Jane trying to balance two secret lives while advancing her fashion career, dealing with high school, and handling her stay-at-home brother who moved in once her dad passed away.

This show is just so much fun. Seriously, I was in love by the third episode. Jane is a funny and relatable character, someone who is just invisible enough to be endearing but not so insecure that I want to knock some sense into her. She dreams of being popular and getting noticed but she's never willing to change herself to do it, which I enjoy. At the same time, she's not a debbie downer which is something I always hate in characters that aren't in the "in crowd".

Billy is basically one of my favorite best friends of all time. He's this punk-rocker who, for the record, is crazy cute (he also has a bad reputation due to his brother being a drug dealer) and will basically do anything for Jane. Their friendship is so sweet and refreshing because they lean on each other no matter what. And Billy has his own drama as well! This brings me to Lulu: I don't care what anyone says, I love her. She's a perfectionist and kind of shallow but she has good heart.

And then at the office! Gray is this dominating and demanding boss who still manages to act as a mother figure to Jane who has never had one. India is sneaky, vindictive, and conniving; and I love it! Watching India sabatoge people is fun but I loved seeing them add more layers to her and making her human. Jeremy is probably my favorite character aside from Billy: he's british and cocky and a ladies' man. But he's also so dedicated and in love with his work and sweet as can be.

My favorite understated character? Harper, without a doubt. That scene where she and Lulu are painting outside just killed me.
OTP**? I do love Jane and Jeremy...but I love me some Billy. Nick was alright I guess.
Netflix? Yes! Of course!
When does it air? Tuesday on ABC Family!
What did I think of the finale? OH MY GOD GUYS. OH MY GOD.

Do you watch the show? What do you think of it? If not, do it!
Happy watching!

*overlooked teenager
**one true pairing

6.02.2012

YA WATCH (5/26 - 6/2)

So remember back in the day when I used to do YA WATCH? If you're new around here, YA WATCH was a feature where I showcased all the new reveals that happen around the publishing industry so you don't have to be running around for all types of new information!

I stopped doing it due to some discouraging events but now I am so pumped to start doing it again! It not only helps you guys be up to date, but helps me be up to date! And so, here we go!


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