Broadway | Side Show (+ 2 for 1 Coupon Code!)

Today I am very excited to share my thoughts on the Broadway musical Side Show with all of you. I had the amazing opportunity to attend the show yesterday specifically so I could review it. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this show. All I knew was that it chronicled the life of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. I had no idea how incredible the performance would be!

Side Show is, in fact, based on the real lives of the Hilton sisters. As the show opens, the sisters are performing in a side show run by Sir, their abusive legal guardian. The opening number, Come Look at the Freaks, is haunting and mystical, and I was captivated right away. I have to give a major shout out to the makeup artists and costume designers for Side Show. They do an amazing job transforming the performers into their characters.

Side Show continues with the sisters being discovered by Terry Connor and his friend, Buddy Foster. They convince Daisy and Violet to leave the side show life behind so they can become Vaudeville performers. The story chronicles what that transition is like, and the trials and tribulations the twins must face on a daily basis. The audience also learns of the girls' horrific past, and their desire to just be normal. Side Show is thus emotionally charged, and lives up to its tagline of "It will never leave you."

I highly recommend Side Show, especially if you are looking for a different kind of Broadway musical. Side Show is truly unlike any other show I've ever seen, which is quite refreshing. I was blown away by the talented cast, and even got choked up several times by the beyond incredible vocals behind each song. (Honestly, every time Jake sang I got a bit watery-eyed.) However, Side Show  is inspiring and definitely has scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny. It is a delightful combination of elements that builds up to a powerful Broadway production.

If you live in New York or will be visiting soon, I am excited to announce that I have a coupon code to share with you! From now until January 4, 2015, use the code SS241RSH on the Telecharge website HERE and you will receive two tickets for the price of one! That is an amazing deal, and I highly recommend you take advantage of the savings while you can. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed Side Show, and I think it is a must see. In fact, this is a show I would see again in a heartbeat!

I am also really excited for the Cast Album! Feel free to preorder it on Amazon HERE. Of course, if you've seen Side Show, please share your thoughts in the comments!

I received a free ticket to Side Show in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Snapshot Sunday | The Holiday Season

It's officially the Christmas season here in NYC. A couple weeks back I visited Rockefeller Center and had to take a picture of the beautiful angels lined up. At the time, the tree was still covered up with a huge tarp. Hopefully I will one day see the tree in all its glory! It's such a shame I have final exams when the tree goes up – maybe next year!

Book Review | We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist

Nonfiction isn't my go to genre, but when I heard about We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist, I was intrigued. We Should Hang Out Sometime (hereinafter "WSHOS") is a memoir chronicling Josh's love life, or lack thereof. Josh admits to the reader right from the start that at age 25 he had the horrible realization that he's never had a girlfriend. That is, if you discredit the 23-hour relationship he had in middle school. That doesn't really count, right?

WSHOS follows Josh's love interests in chronological order throughout his life. He recounts each crush to his audience, and then he contacts each woman in the present day to explore why their relationship never blossomed. Along the way we encounter some lovely women, some awkward situations, and some downright "this would only happen to Josh" moments.

Prior to hearing about WSHOS I didn't know who Josh was, but when I added the book to my Goodreads, I discovered he is a YouTuber. I watched a couple of his videos before starting the book, which I think was a great idea because I could hear his voice while reading. I expected WSHOS to be extremely lighthearted and funny, but it was quite a bit more serious. While Josh does have a great sense of humor and sarcastic wit, I was surprised at the emotional depth in the book. I didn't just learn about Josh's love life, I learned about his life – the cancer he survived as a child, how he gets around with only one leg, and more (but you'll have to read the book to find out). WSHOS was not exactly the comedy I hoped for, but it was a great coming of age story.

One thing I questioned in the book was the breakdown of chapters. I really enjoyed how each section of WSHOS was captioned with a girl's name, and it was quite fun to see Josh reflect on each relationship with a hypothesis of what went wrong. However, it was unclear to me why those sections had to be broken down even further into smaller chapters. It made the story a bit choppy for me, and a think larger sections would have allowed for a better flow.

In the same way, I worry that Josh writes WSHOS with his fans in mind as the audience. It's great that he includes his signature hand-drawn graphs in the book, but if I hadn't watched his YouTube videos I wouldn't have understood their significance. Similarly, the ending of the book is a bit abrupt. Because I followed up on WSHOS with a healthy does of Josh's videos, I know how his story concludes, but not everyone else will. Thus, I think the epilogue of WSHOS would be stronger with a bit more explanation and finality.

All in all, I gave WSHOS a 3.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. It was an enjoyable memoir about a unique life, and I'm glad I got to know Josh better through his work. I highly recommend WSOHS to Josh's fans, and to those who enjoy stories about love and relationships. WSHOS will be released on December 23, and is available for preorder on Amazon HERE. You can also subscribe to Josh's YouTube Channel to learn more about him HERE.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I was extremely lucky a couple months back when I won a Twitter giveaway for Jandy Nelson's new release I'll Give You the Sun. I decided to pick this book up as soon as possible because the cover is gorgeous and the story sounded equally beautiful.

I'll Give You the Sun is a young adult contemporary told in a dual perspective format. Twins Noah and Jude were once close, but the older they get the more they drift apart. They each take turns telling the story, Noah at age 13 and Jude at age 16. This difference in perspective and time period is extremely interesting. It allows the reader to put together the pieces of the story and discover the intricately woven masterpiece that Nelson created.

I don't want to tell you much about the plot, as I think I'll Give You the Sun is best read with an open mind. This book is about family, love, self-discovery, and so much more. It is truly heartbreaking, but also very lovely. The writing is quite unique, and often written in a dreamlike style. It took a few chapters for me to really get into the rhythm of Nelson's writing, but I learned to love it very quickly.

My favorite aspect of I'll Give You the Sun is the character development. Both Noah and Jude have different narrative styles, and Nelson does an amazing job at creating specific personality traits for both of them. For instance, Noah is an artist and often thinks in terms of the paintings he creates in his mind. On the other hand, Jude believes in the bible her grandma left for her, and often recites its passages for the reader while adding her own flair to them. I loved being in the heads of these two characters, and by the end of the book I felt as if I really knew them.

I'll Give You the Sun is a wonderful book, and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I did think the ending was a little rushed, and I would have liked the story to continue for at least another chapter. I also found a few grammatical mistakes, and as you know I always deduct for those in my star ratings. Otherwise, I think Nelson's story is extremely captivating. I highly recommend this contemporary, and plan on picking up Nelson's other book The Sky is Everywhere at some point in the future. You can purchase I'll Give You the Sun on Amazon HERE.

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

It's no secret at this point that I love young adult dystopian novels, so I was extremely excited when Entangled Teen contacted me and asked if I would review The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel. Despite my busy schedule, I agreed to review the book in time for the release. I'm so glad I accepted the offer!

The Book of Ivy is told through sixteen-year-old Ivy's point of view. As the story begins, Ivy is about to get married. But this wedding is unlike the ones we know today. Ivy's marriage, like nearly all marriages in her world, are arranged. She's destined to marry the president's son, as their families have been at odds with one another for two generations, and their union is a symbol of the president's power over the town her grandfather established. While many girls her age are excited for a life with their new husbands, Ivy is petrified. Not only will she be forced into intimacy with husband Bishop, but she's also been set the task of killing him.

Readers follow Ivy as her marriage begins, and as she gets to know Bishop. As it turns out, he may not be the evil monster her family told her he would be, and things may not go according to plan.

It's not often that I race through a book, but I read The Book of Ivy in just two sittings. It is fast-paced, easy-to-read, and quite compelling. It did not have a "typical dystopian" feel, and there was nothing cliche in the plot. I was really surprised with how unique the story was. In fact, despite the arranged marriages, the world Ivy lives in isn't too bad.

I also really loved the character development in this book. I never knew who could be trusted, and who was the real enemy. Ivy also struggled with this, and with the book told in her voice, it made for a mysterious read. Of course, the ending was fabulous! I cannot wait for the second book in the series to be released so I can find out how Ivy's story continues.

I gave The Book of Ivy a full 5 star rating on Goodreads, and highly recommend it. If you love dysoptians, this is a must read, but I also think that contemporary lovers will enjoy this book as well. The Book of Ivy hits bookstores today, and can be purchased on Amazon HERE. Let me know in the comments if you've read this book, and your thoughts!

This book was provided for my unbiased review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Snapshot Sunday | Home Cookin'

I usually feature city snapshots every week, but today I thought I would share a picture of the Banana Oatmeal cookies I made last night. While NYC has some of the best food in the world, sometimes it's great to stay in and make something in the kitchen, especially when the weather turns cold. I had a couple ripe bananas, and found THIS simple Pinterest recipe. I think they turned out great! 

Book Trailer | Anomaly by Tonya Kuper

Anomaly by Tonya Kuper is being released by Entangled Teen on November 25, 2014. Here is everything you need to know about this new, young adult release! 

COVER & SYNOPSIS

Reality is only an illusion.

Except for those who can control it…

Worst. Birthday. Ever.

My first boyfriend dumped me—happy birthday, Josie!—my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening…

Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it.

When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead…

BOOK TRAILER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tonya Kuper is the author of ANOMALY, the first in the Schrodinger’s Consortium Series, a young adult science fiction trilogy, releasing November 25, 2014 by Entangled Teen. She fell for Young Adult lit while earning her Master’s degree in Reading Education. She's a mom to two awesome boys, an alt music junkie, a Star Wars nerd, and in love with Sherlock.

Find Tonya online:

Website: http://tonyakuper.com/

Twitter: @TonyaKuper

BUY ANOMALY NOW!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads Giveaway

Are you excited for Anomaly?! Let me know in the comments! 

Snapshot Sunday | NYC by Night

The laundry room in my building was out of commission for a week, and as soon as it was back in action I stayed up late to wash my clothes. What does this have to do with the photo, you ask? Well, the laundry room is on the top floor of my building, and there is a balcony with amazing views of the city. I couldn't help but snap a picture of the Empire State Building lit up. I'll always think the skyline is gorgeous, and I'll miss this view when I move out of this building. 

Book Review | Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

I've wanted to read a Scott Westerfeld book for years ever since hearing about his Uglies series, so I was very excited when I got the opportunity to review his new release. Afterworlds is a unique book that contains two stories in one. First, we follow 18-year-old Darcy Patel. She is a recent high school graduate who moves to New York City after getting her first book deal. The book she wrote is called Afterworlds, a young adult paranormal. Westerfeld's Afterworlds opens in Darcy's world, and then the chapters alternate so that we get to read Darcy's book as well. This back-and-forth makes for an interesting reading experience.

I'll admit I was a bit nervous to read Afterworlds. At just over 600 pages, I was worried I wouldn't get through this lengthy novel, or that the two story lines would be confusing. Luckily, Westerfeld does an amazing job at intertwining his stories. In fact, I was really impressed with how easy it was to keep up with both stories at once. Westerfeld definitely gets an A+ for crafting Afterworlds.

That being said I was a bit disappointed overall. I really loved Darcy's storyline. I found her chapters very interesting, as not only do I live in New York, but I liked learning about the publishing industry from a new author's point of view. Plus, Darcy is forced to grow up rather quickly, and has to learn how to deal with the beast NYC can be. I definitely liked her story better between the two in Afterworlds, though I feel like her ending was a bit abrupt and cliché. If I was to rate her story separately, I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Darcy's Afterworlds, on the other hand, was a bit lackluster for me. It begins with a bang when protagonist Lizzie is the sole survivor of a terrorist attack in the airport. When Lizzie plays dead to avoid being killed, she ends up transporting herself to the afterworld, the land of the dead. There she meets Yamaraj, a death god who explains to Lizzie that she is now a psychopomp. Afterworlds follows Lizzie as she learns what it means to be a psychopomp, and deals with this new aspect of her life.

I really wanted to love the Afterworlds story, but there were several issues along the way. For instance, the characters were a bit underdeveloped, events occurred without good explanations, and the ending was unsatisfying. I was unsure whether Westerfeld crafted Afterworlds to be purposefully weak, since Darcy is a debut author and therefore writing for the first time, or if the storyline just fell flat. I also know that Darcy is writing a sequel to Afterworlds, so that may be why the ending didn't completely wrap up perfectly, but as a reader of Westerfeld's Afterworlds I would have liked a bit more. Finally, Lizzie does something completely unforgivable in Afterworlds that I can't explain due to spoilers. What I will say, however, is that her behavior was extremely off-putting, and took away a lot of credibility for the entire Afterworlds plot. Rating this part of the book alone, I would give it 2 out of 5 stars.

All in all, I did really enjoy reading Afterworlds despite the issues I have with it. I read the book rather quickly in under two weeks because I wanted to know what would happen next. I think the story was quite unique and fun, but could use some more polish. My overall rating for Afterworlds is 3 out of 5 stars, and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a different kind of young adult novel. You can purchase Afterworlds on Amazon HERE. Please let me know in the comments what you thought of this book!

This books was provided by Edelweiss for my unbiased review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Signing | Grace Helbig at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe for Grace's Guide

When I found out that Grace Helbig, YouTuber, comedienne, and author extraordinaire, was coming to New York City for a book signing the day before my twenty-fifth birthday, I couldn't help but rejoice! Grace is an awesome human that I follow online, and I jumped at the opportunity to meet her. In honor of her first book's release, Housing Works Bookstore Cafe hosted a launch party on October 19. I decided it was perfectly cool to buy myself a copy of Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown Up as a birthday gift.

I had never been to an event at Housing Works before, but I've been to enough YouTube meet-ups and book signings that I knew I had to be there early. I arrived at 10:30am, and asked when the line would be starting for the 1:00pm event. I was super surprised when employees told me they weren't going to start setting up until 12:00 noon! Nonetheless, I hung around for a couple hours, and soon the place was packed with a crowd I was 99% sure was there for Grace.

Things got a little complicated. Everyone had to get up and move out of the cafe so the employees could set up chairs. Then, just before we were about to choose our seats, the book sales began. So even though I was one of the first fans to arrive, I ended up missing out on a prime seat due to there not being a line. I had a few seconds of panic and annoyance, but luckily I used my ever-growing patience skills and dealt with the disorganization. Finally, I got my book and chose a seat. I was next to a pole, but luckily had an amazing view of Grace!

Grace was really sweet and funny, and just like I would expect her to be. She read a piece from her new book, and then took questions from the crowd. I was completely obsessed with her outfit and totally chill attitude. Plus, she gave great advice to those of us trying to make it in New York.  Grace spoke for about half an hour, and then we were called up in groups to get our books signed. There was no personalization at this event, but Grace did pose for pictures! Here are a couple of awesome selfies we took!

 Overall I had an amazing time at Grace's book signing even though things were a bit disorganized at first. Grace was so nice, and I can't wait to read her book. As a now 25-year-old millennial, Grace's Guide is absolutely perfect for this time in my life. I'll be sure to have a full review up once I finish reading it!

Book Review | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

In the spirit of Halloween I wanted to share my thoughts on a young adult book that I read over the summer. I had heard great things about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, but was hesitant to pick it up due to the creepy cover. When I won the book in a giveaway, I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this is not a scary book at all!

Miss Peregrine's opens with teenager Jacob living his life, when all of a sudden his beloved grandfather is found dead in the woods by his house. Jacob rushes to the scene only to discover a monster lurking nearby, but no one believes that the monster is real. Instead, Jacob's family and friends, and even his new psychiatrist, believe that Jacob created the monster out of grief for the loss of his grandfather. Because of this, Jacob convinces his father to accompany him on a trip to Europe to visit an island where his grandfather spent time after escaping the Holocaust. At first it seems that no one left on the island remembers Jacob's grandfather, but everything changes when Jacob finds a home full of peculiar children.

As you can probably guess from my brief plot summary, Miss Peregrine's does have mysterious and spooky elements to it, but I would not consider it a horror novel at all. Instead, it is an interesting story with paranormal elements, and lots of twists and turns throughout the way. There is no denying that Ransom Riggs has created a new and unusual world, and I want to mention how incredible it is that he includes vintage photographs in the book to illustrate the story. The use of photos gives the story life, and helps the reader visualize things that would otherwise be lost in the imagination.

That being said, I did have a few issues with the book. The beginning is a bit of a downer. In fact, I almost didn't want to continue reading because I was afraid the entire story would be depressing. Luckily, I was able to move past that and discover the fantastical story Riggs created. However, I also felt that the ending to the book was quite rushed. Things happened so quickly that I had trouble grasping what was going on. In this way, I think Miss Peregrine's has an awesome plot, but could use some polishing at the start and finish. Nonetheless, I gave the book a solid 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, and would highly recommend it for young adult readers who are looking for something different.

Miss Peregrine's is the first book in a series that continues on with Hollow City. I'm not sure whether or not I will continue reading this particular series, but I do look forward to other books by Ransom Riggs, as they are sure to be imaginative. You can purchase Miss Peregrine's on Amazon HERE. Of course, please tell me your thoughts on this book in the comments!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE ROSIE PROJECT, THE FIRST BOOK IN THE DON TILLMAN SERIES. SEE MY NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF THE ROSIE PROJECT HERE.

If you've read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, you're probably extremely excited that the sequel The Rosie Effect is coming out on December 30 of this year. I could not wait to see the next chapter in Don and Rosie's epic romance, and was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read an advanced Ebook of The Rosie Effect. As you would expect, I read it right away!

The Rosie Effect begins with Don catching readers up on how life with Rosie has been since the pair got married and began a life together in New York City. Don's life is substantially better – his friend group has increased dramatically, he has a great job at Columbia, and, of course, he has Rosie. Yet everything is about to change when Rosie announces that she's pregnant, and Don has to deal with this surprise.

Once Don accepts that fatherhood is just around the corner, he does everything he can to learn about pregnancy and children. Unfortunately, Don's good intentions get him into some sticky situations, and he soon finds that his relationship with Rosie is heading for disaster. Readers follow Don as he tries to cope with the new changes in his life, and ensure that his future with Rosie and Bud (Baby Under Development) will be a good one.

While I still really enjoyed The Rosie Effect and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, it was definitely not the fun, romantic comedy that was The Rosie Project. This sequel is full of hard-hitting emotions, and at times it was downright sad. I came to really dislike Rosie for much of the book, but kept on reading because I just had to find out what was going to happen. I did like the ending, and that helped me come to terms with the parts of the story that I found lackluster.

That being said, I really liked the character additions in The Rosie Effect, and the side stories that took place in addition to the overarching plot. Plus, you do not want to miss Gene's major confession in this book (totally unexpected!). I hope Graeme Simsion continues on with Don's story, as I definitely want to see the next phase of Don and Rosie's relationship. I'm too invested for this to be the conclusion!

I definitely recommend The Rosie Effect if you enjoyed The Rosie Project, but keep in mind that this second book has a different tone. The book was still great, but a bit darker than the first. In fact, if you are looking for more depth and emotion, you'll love The Rosie Effect for sure. You can preorder the book on Amazon HERE to ensure you get it as soon as it's released!

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I began hearing good things about The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion a couple months ago, and then it seemed everyone was talking about it. What really propelled me to pick up this pick was the comparison of the main character to the beloved Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. Any book that has a Sheldon is a book for me, so I picked up The Rosie Project as soon as possible!

The Rosie Project is an adult contemporary novel told in the first person by main character Don Tillman. Don is a middle-aged geneticist who is anything but average. He's programmed his life to know how every minute should be spent, and has emotional issues in the sense that he cannot feel emotions as most people do. Yet Don has started a new project called The Wife Project in order to find himself a life partner who is absolutely perfect for him. While he's waiting for Mrs. Right to come along, Rosie knocks on his office door and Don's life is derailed.

Rosie asks Don to help her find her biological father. Don agrees to put The Wife Project on hold to help Rosie, and along the way the two form a unique relationship. The Rosie Project is a true romantic comedy, and a joy to read. I could not get enough of Don's narrative, and when the pair ended up in New York City I just couldn't handle the feels anymore. The ending was a bit cliché for me, but you'll have to read the book to find out what I mean!

I gave The Rosie Project a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. There were a few minor issues along the way that did not take much away for my love of this story. Don Tillman is not a Sheldon Cooper replica, but if you enjoy Sheldon I think that love will transfer to Don as well. The Rosie Project is a quick and easy read, and I highly recommend it. You can purchase the book on Amazon HERE, and stay tuned for my review of the sequel book, The Rosie Effect, later this week!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Snapshot Sunday | Fall in NYC

Fall is my favorite season, and as a native New Englander, it can be a bit sad to be away from beautiful foliage and crunching leaves. I appreciate the small steps that some NYC businesses and neighborhoods take to make the city feel more festive. I had to snap a picture of this mum and pumpkin setup in SoHo. I loved the colors and autumnal feeling. Fall in NYC is nothing like it is in New England, but this view helped for sure! 

Broadway | On The Town

I am so excited to tell all of you about On The Town, as this was truly a one-of-a-kind Broadway experience for me. On The Town officially opened on October 16, but I rushed to the theatre during previews because one of my best childhood friends is in the show. I couldn't wait to see her perform, and it was a dream come true! We met as dancers growing up, and it was surreal to see her onstage in a classic musical. Thus, despite me being a bit biased about the show, I still wanted to share my thoughts on On The Town!

On The Town is now playing at the Lyric Theatre (formally the Foxwoods Theatre), and is revival of the classic musical that first performed on Broadway in 1944. The story follows three sailors who dock in New York City and have just twenty-four hours before they take off again. What plays out is a funny and romantic tale that takes the audience around New York in the span of two and a half hours.

I saw the show in previews, and as my friend explained, changes were being made on a daily basis. At the time, the show did feel a bit disjointed, but it was overall a joy to watch. Leonard Bernstein's score is recognizable and cheerful, and the well-known New York, New York! was stuck in my head for days. The entire cast was excellent, and I really appreciated the dancing. The strong dance numbers were not only entertaining, but they gave me the opportunity to see my friend onstage for most of the show! I should also mention that the set and costumes are amazing. I loved the bright colors and how seamlessly the stage was transformed in each new scene. I never knew what was going to happen next!

I do want to make a quick note in this review based off of my personal experience as an audience member. I attended a Saturday matinee, and the majority of the audience was made up of senior citizens who presumably wanted to view a favorite show of theirs. Yet unfortunately the crowd around me made some comments (in the middle of the performance, mind you) that need to be addressed. If you buy a ticket to On The Town expecting the movie starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, try to keep an open mind. The actors in the broadway show are incredible, and deserve to be respected in their own right. It's unfair to compare them to the greats of the past, and downright rude to comment "They're not as good," or "It's definitely not the same," both things I overheard from my neighbors in the middle of the show. Please, if you go see On The Town, keep your comparisons to yourself and don't spoil the performance by adding your own soundtrack.

Last but not least, I want to mention the Stage Door, which is located on 43rd Street. The actors did come out and sign autographs, and barricades were set up. I didn't get my Playbill signed this time around because I was getting a behind the scenes tour with my friend! I think that was definitely worth foregoing the autographs. Plus, there is always next time.

Overall, On The Town was a lovely experience. It's a show that's perfect for families, as younger audiences members will not catch on to the cheeky jokes that adults will love. I was luckily able to score an amazing seat in the orchestra thanks to the $20 lottery system (all details on that in THIS blog post). In fact, now that the show is officially open I plan on going again at some point in the future. I think that proves that On The Town was a great show, and I highly recommend it! Please let me know in the comments your thoughts on On The Town!

Snapshot Sunday | Leather Weather

I spotted this sign outside of m0851 in SoHo and had to laugh. I love leather weather, and in fact do own some leather pieces in my wardrobe, but I knew immediately who doesn't love leather weather: cows.  

Book Review | Extraction by Stephanie Diaz

I absolutely love reading young adult dystopian books, so when I heard about Extraction by Stephanie Diaz I knew I had to add it to my list. It is the first in a new series, and was just released this past July. If you're looking for a dystopian pick with some unique science fiction elements, you'll definitely want to pick up Extraction!

Readers follow sixteen-year-old Clementine as she struggles to survive on the Surface. Because of pollution, the moon has started leaking a killer acid through the depleted ozone layer. Though scientists built a shield to keep the acid from killing the population, most people now live underground, with the Core being the desired place of residence. As the book begins, Clementine is about to take the Extraction testing. This test decides whether she will be chosen to live in the Core, or whether she will be killed at age twenty once she is no longer needed.

Clementine scores well on her test, and is given the opportunity to escape the Surface. But leaving means she will be ripped away from her best friend Logan, whom she will most likely never see again. Clementine hopes her new life in the Core will be a safe one, and that she might possess enough Promise (the score each citizen is given according to their physical and intellectual abilities) to impress the Core's commanders.

Overall, I really enjoyed Extraction, and gave it four out of five stars on Goodreads. The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and very adventurous. There were many twists and turns around the way, but they were logically written and Diaz drops subtle hints to carefully craft the story. I also really enjoyed the characters, and how I never knew who I could trust and who was a bad guy. My only critique was that there are many elements of Extraction that were very reminiscent of other dystopian novels I've read. I would have liked a bit more originality at some points, but for the most part the story is out of this world (pun intended).

While Extraction had a solid ending, I'm very much looking forward to the second book Rebellion which is scheduled to be released in February of 2015. If you love the young adult dystopian genre like I do, I highly recommend picking up this series. Extraction is available for purchase on Amazon HERE. You can also preorder Rebellion HERE to make sure you'll get the next book as soon as it's released! As always, please let me know your thoughts on Extraction in the comments below!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

As a child I absolutely loved reading fantasy novels, but for some reason I've strayed away from the genre. When I saw that the book club Booksplosion was hosting a read-along for the first book in the Heir Chronicles series by Cinda Williams Chima, I decided to pick up The Warrior Heir and join in on the fun.

The Warrior Heir is a young adult fantasy novel that follows our main character Jack. The book opens with a mysterious prologue that gives us a glimpse into a magical world, but then jumps forward to Jack's high school life. He's lived as a normal teenager, but one day he forgets to take his medicine and weird things start happening. It turns out Jack is a member of a magical world, and readers follow him as he adapts to his new status.

There were several aspects of The Warrior Heir that I really enjoyed, but unfortunately the story was very slow going for me, and I felt like the world-building took a long time to develop. For much of the book, I was quite confused and wished I had more of a setting for the story. Similarly, I found the story hard to believe. Yes, it is a fantasy novel, but as the story begins Jack is still a normal kid at a normal high school. He and his friends do some crazy things no questions asked, and that annoyed me. However, I did like Jack's relationships with his friends and his Aunt Linda, and I thought the book ended well.

That said, I don't think I will continue on in this series. The Heir Chronicles is a companion series, which means that each book follows a different main character. I would love to hear more about Jack and how his life develops after The Warrior Heir, but I'm not interested in other characters in this world.

I rated The Warrior Heir a solid three stars on Goodreads. While the story was innovative and ended well, the book was just too slow in its world building for me to rate it any higher. If you really love fantasy, especially those with magic, I think you would enjoy this book. On the other hand, if you are looking to break into the fantasy genre, I don't think this is a great series for you. You can purchase The Warrior Heir on Amazon HERE. As always, please let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.