Book Review | The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Fried by Kody Keplinger

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
Published by Poppy on September 7, 2010
Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads: ★★

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

REVIEW

I went into The DUFF not knowing what to expect. Reviews from my Goodreads friends are all over the map, but when I got the opportunity to review the book in celebration of the movie being released, I was excited to dive right in. Unfortunately, while The DUFF was a quick and easy read for me, it is not one that I enjoyed much at all. I have a lot to discuss, so let's begin with my thoughts on Bianca, the book's first-person narrator.

Bianca is one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever encountered. While I can understand that she is going through a lot in her teenage life, with her parents' relationship failing and with her being labeled the DUFF by one of the most popular guys in school, her negative attitude really got to me. It was horrible for Wesley to call Bianca the DUFF, but Bianca bullies him just as much, if not more. She's constantly telling him how despicable he is and saying how much she hates him. This negativity was annoying to me as a reader, and didn't make me want to root for Bianca. Instead, I wished she would just grow up and stop being so horrible to everyone around her. The fact that Bianca constantly lied to everyone around her, including her best friends and family, only made me despise her even more. 

Moreover, even getting past the protagonist's many faults, the writing of The DUFF was lackluster as well. I found the dialogue to be quite awkward, with characters speaking long passages to each other. It was unrealistic, and really hyped up the teenage melodrama I felt while reading.

Similarly, this is one of those novels where all of the serious issues discussed throughout the story somehow wrapped up nicely with a big bow to tie everything together. In order to avoid spoilers I will not explain this critique much more. However, as an example, Bianca's father relapses in an addiction he has struggled with for years, and seemingly gets over it instantaneously. Not only did this scene in particular rub me the wrong way (it gives young readers the idea that addiction is just a quick sickness that can be overcome in a day), but when I put it together with all the other aspects of this book that worked out perfectly in the end, it was quite damaging to the book's credibility. 

I was also very shocked with the content of this book. The DUFF is labeled as young adult, but it is definitely new adult. There is obscene language in the entirety of the book (I think the F word is Keplinger's favorite), and there are several explicit sex scenes. While there was nothing wrong with the subject matter of the novel per se, I felt very uncomfortable thinking that so many young people have read this book and loved it. This book takes place in a high school with a protagonist who is only 17-years-old. I would feel much differently if the story played out between adults, and not between young people who are on the borderline of being able to legally consent. 

In the same way, while I appreciate that The DUFF is taking on a "girl power" attitude, the feminism portrayed in the novel was quite unsettling. I whole heartedly agree that women should not be called sluts and whores, but while this book celebrates womanhood, it does so at the expense of bashing men. Male gender roles are completely upheld (in fact, there is a line commenting on how all teenage boys are obsessed with sex), and the author suggests that it's okay to call Wesley a manwhore. This double standard was very aggravating, and not what I would want today's youth to read. This is true with The DUFF's moral, if you will, at the end of the story, though I will hold off on critiquing that in the interest of not spoiling the ending. 

Finally, I want to quickly mention some of the serious issues brushed over in this novel that are clearly present yet not flushed-out. First, Bianca is clearly going through some mental anguish and needs to talk about her issues with a professional. Her obsessive clothes-folding routine and several comments regarding how "messed up" she is leads the reader to the conclusion that there is something wrong that needs to be addressed in ways other than casual sex. Unfortunately, we never see Bianca reach out for that help. In addition, I was very disappointed with the flippant comments marginalizing suicide in this book. Suicide is a serious issue that should never be used as a joke.

Overall, I'm not sure that I would recommend The DUFF to anyone, as I find it inappropriate for its target, young adult audience, and anyone older would probably not enjoy it. If you're a contemporary lover who doesn't mind some teenage angst and friends-with-benefits relationships, perhaps you'll give The DUFF a try. Otherwise, it's fine to go without reading this popular book. I don't think you need to worry about missing out on anything! 

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Book Review | Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King
Published by Udon Entertainment on March 10, 2015
Genres: Fiction, Classic, Manga, Graphic Novel
Pages: 308
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne's tragic saga of Puritan America.

Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions.

Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

REVIEW

Graphic novels are all the rage in the book community right now, and I decided to test out the genre for myself with this manga edition of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I'll be completely honest here. I was assigned The Scarlet Letter during my junior year of high school, and never finished it. I remember the writing being a bit complex at the time, and I also pitied Dimmesdale when my classmates (and teachers!) completely bashed him. I put the book down and haven't looked back.

The idea of the Manga Classics series is thus very intriguing. I was able to finally find out how The Scarlet Letter ends, and I saw the story depicted in pictures to help me visualize it even better. While I cannot say how accurate this adaptation is to the original novel, I can say that it made me want to pick up The Scarlet Letter and actually give it a second chance. This manga was a super quick read, but one that was emotional and intriguing. I couldn't put it down until I was done! 

I am no art critic, but I did find the art very interesting in this book. The artwork is done completely in black and white with the exception of the scarlet letter, which is shown in red throughout the book. I thought that was a very smart decision – it really makes the 'A' stand out on Hester's chest, and draws the reader's eye towards it in every scene. I did find that some of the imagery didn't fit in with the story's tone or time period, but overall it was very well done and certainly added a lot to the reading experience.

I also thought it was great that this book included a guide on reading manga at the beginning for newbies like me. It did take a few pages for me to get used to reading right to left, but I soon got the hang of it. I also liked how the book concludes with some passages about the original novel, and how the authors made choices in this adaptation based on The Scarlet Letter's history. Unfortunately, I couldn't read these passages on the eARC version of the book (the print was small and blurry), but they look like a solid addition from what I could see.

All in all, I really enjoyed Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. I think it would make a great companion to anyone studying The Scarlet Letter in school, or to anyone who is interested in reading classic literature but has a difficult time understanding it. I am definitely interested in picking up the original novel now, and want to check out more Manga Classics in the future. I highly recommend checking out this series! 

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Book Review | Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Published by Poppy on October 10, 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 294
Format: Hardcover
Source: BookMooch
Goodreads: ★★★★1/2

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life? 

REVIEW

After reading a few disturbing books at the end of February, I needed to curl up with something that I knew I'd love. I recently received Bunheads by Sophie Flack on BookMooch, a book trading website. I've heard mixed reviews of this young adult novel, but because I was a dancer growing up I was really interested in reading a book featuring a ballerina. I definitely picked up Bunheads at the perfect time – I found it a quick and comforting read. 

Bunheads tells the story of Hannah Ward, a nineteen-year-old in the Manhattan Ballet Company's corps de ballet. The book is written in Hannah's first-person perspective, and is separated into the three seasons the ballet performs: fall, winter, and spring. Readers follow Hannah as she faces a multitude of struggles in her young life. Hannah wants more than anything to be promoted to a soloist in the company, but receiving that position requires a strict diet and workout schedule, and forces her to compete against her closet friends. At the same time, Hannah wants desperately to be a normal teenager, but ballet dancers in the Manhattan Ballet Company rarely leave the confines of the theatre.

I really enjoyed Hannah's story, and connected with her in many ways. Even though I am not a professional dancer, I understand how it feels to move to New York City and try to follow your dreams when you are young and alone. Just like Hannah, I struggle with balancing my career with my personal life, and I really admired how Hannah handled her situation. 

Bunheads does feature a love triangle, but I think it worked really well with this story. It wasn't overdone, and it wasn't dramatic. Instead, it was quite realistic, and the conflict brought an interesting twist to the story. I only mention the love triangle in my review because I know that is a key buzzword for some readers when deciding whether or not to pick up a book. 

The only criticisms I have with Bunheads are very small indeed. First, Flack uses a multitude of ballet terms throughout the novel. Because I took ballet for several years, I had no problem pronouncing or understanding the different dance positions and movements. However, readers with no dance background will probably find these terms frustrating, so it would be very helpful to include a glossary in the back of the book with the proper pronunciations, translation from French to English, and a short description of what the step is. 

Furthermore, I found the pacing in Bunheads to be a little confusing at times. Even though the story was separated by season, I found that time moved much quicker that I would have expected. For instance, if a scene takes place in the book, the next scene could be either the next day, or the next week, or even a few weeks down the road. The timing between chapters was not consistent, and I would have liked more markers so I could follow where I was. However, this is really nitpicking, and it really did not detract much from the story at all.

Overall, I really loved Bunheads and highly recommend it to anyone who was a dancer or who is interesting in dancing. The author is a retired ballerina herself, so I loved the authenticity in the story. I learned so much about what it takes to be a professional dancer, but at the same time I connected to this book on a personal level. I'm really impressed with Flack's ability to make Hannah's story my story even though we lead very different lives. I will definitely be rereading Bunheads at some point in the future, and I anxiously await Flack's next book, whatever it may be! 

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Book Review | We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler

We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler

Published by Bloomsbury USA on February 3, 2015

Genres: Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Adventure 

Pages: 289

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

Mega-bestselling author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) gives us his long-awaited and most ambitious novel yet: a dark, rollicking, stunningly entertaining human comedy.

A boat has gone missing. Goods have been stolen. There is blood in the water. It is the twenty-first century and a crew of pirates is terrorizing the San Francisco Bay.

Phil is a husband, a father, a struggling radio producer, and the owner of a large condo with a view of the water. But he’d like to be a rebel and a fortune hunter.

Gwen is his daughter. She’s fourteen. She’s a student, a swimmer, and a best friend. But she’d like to be an adventurer and an outlaw.

Phil teams up with his young, attractive assistant. They head for the open road, attending a conference to seal a deal.

Gwen teams up with a new, fierce friend and some restless souls. They head for the open sea, stealing a boat to hunt for treasure.

We Are Pirates is a novel about our desperate searches for happiness and freedom, about our wild journeys beyond the boundaries of our ordinary lives.

Also, it’s about a teenage girl who pulls together a ragtag crew to commit mayhem in the San Francisco Bay, while her hapless father tries to get her home.

REVIEW

Sometimes I finish a book and I have no idea how to rate it. That was the case with We Are Pirates, and it took me hours of thinking upon completion of the book to be able to formulate my thoughts into words and into a star rating. Let me begin by saying this is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, and it's classified as adult for that reason. There is violence, crude language, and some sexual content. I definitely recommend this book for mature readers only. 

We Are Pirates is a novel that I picked up purely because Daniel Handler's name was written on the cover. I've never read anything by him before, so I wanted to give his work a try. I expected a fun fantasy story about pirates, and I could not have been more wrong. We Are Pirates is the ultimate family drama. Readers follow the Needle family as an unnamed narrator is relating the story from some point in the future. The book is divided to follow dad Phil, a radio producer in a struggling marriage, as he travels to a conference with his young assistant, and his fourteen-year-old daughter Gwen in separate yet intertwining points-of-view. 

When the story begins, Gwen attempts to steal from the local drugstore, and is sentenced to one month of volunteering at a nearby nursing home. She's partnered up with Errol, a senile old man who asks Gwen to read to him from the pirate books he owns. Soon Gwen becomes enamored with the life of pirates, and decides to put together her own pirate gang and leave her family behind forever. 

We Are Pirates is separated into two parts of equal size. The first part was a bit slow-going for me, as it took me a while to get used to Handler's writing style. It reminded me of JK Rowling's voice in The Casual Vacancy, but of course the stories are quite different. Despite my reluctance at the beginning of the novel, once part two of the story began, I could not put the book down, and flew through it until the end. I will admit, however, I had to take short breaks to process the action. We Are Pirates is very heavy in substance. 

While labeled as a dark comedy, I truly saw nothing funny in We Are Pirates. I didn't laugh while reading, but instead felt shocked and sad, and I cringed a lot. I had to keep reminding myself that this book is a work of fiction because Handler does an amazing job of making the story feel real. It's an unbelievable tale, and I honestly cannot find the purpose in it besides making a comment on humanity. I questioned Handler's sanity at many points while reading We Are Pirates. Who, in his right mind, could even concoct such a tale?!

I know this review is vague and you're probably curious as to why I'm so disturbed after reading We Are Pirates. The only way to cure this is to pick up the novel and read it yourself. If you're even remotely interested in it, I recommend this read with the disclaimer that the contents may shock you. I ended up rating this book a four out of five stars as the beginning of the book was difficult to get into, but I truly did love the writing style. Handler's prose is amazingly done,  and I especially enjoyed the descriptive language and how the story is weaved together. We Are Pirates is a book that is going to stay with me for a very long time. 

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Currently Reading | February 2015

I'm the type of reader who prefers to read one book at a time. Well, sometimes that doesn't work out the way I want it to! I thought it would be fun to share with you the four (yes, four) books that I am currently reading, or about to start reading this weekend.

The Master of Misrule (The Game of Triumphs, #2) by Laura Powell

The first book I'm reading is the sequel to The Game of Triumphs, which I just reviewed HERE. This is the second book in a young adult, urban fantasy duology. I'm really enjoying this world, which co-exists with current day London. It's so cool how the author created a game using Tarot cards. I never know what is going to happen next, so it's really fun to turn the pages and discover what our characters will be mixed up in, in the next chapter.

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

This is a short story collection that I got for review from Edelweiss. I've never read any Neil Gaiman before, so I was excited for the opportunity to review Trigger Warning. I've been reading a story or two before I go to bed, and I have to say I'm surprised so far. The stories are really well written, and I quite enjoy Gaiman's voice. However, even though they may be weird and creepy, none of the stories so far have required a trigger warning. I'm easily scared, so that's saying something! I'm interested to see how the stories continue.

Finding Harry Styles by GB Hope

You're probably wondering why I'm reading a book with the name Harry Styles in the title. Well, I saw this book on NetGalley and just had to grab it. I laughed at the cover, and figured it would be a fun contemporary about a huge One Direction fan. Boy, was I wrong! This is a post-apocalyptic story where all of a sudden, the power goes out, all cars stop running, and people go crazy. I'm about 25% through this Ebook, which I'm reading on my commute when the trains are quiet. It's not great, but I'm interested to see what's going to happen!

Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury

Last but not least, I will be picking up Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In this weekend. One of my professors gave the class brand new copies of this book and is requiring us to read it. I'm actually quite excited to pick this up, because I've heard great things about it. Everyone could use some good negotiation skills, so definitely pick this up if you're looking to talk your way into a lower price for that new car, or a higher wage for your new job!

Those are the four books that I'm currently reading! I don't know when I'll be finishing any of them, but you will definitely see reviews for each book upon completion. Please let me know what you are currently reading in the comments!

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Book Review | An Italian Wife by Ann Hood

An Italian Wife by Ann Hood
Published by W. W. Norton & Company on September 2, 2014
Genres: Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: Goodreads Giveaway
Goodreads: ★★★★

An Italian Wife is the extraordinary story of Josephine Rimaldi—her joys, sorrows, and passions, spanning more than seven decades. The novel begins in turn-of-the-century Italy, when fourteen-year-old Josephine, sheltered and naive, is forced into an arranged marriage to a man she doesn't know or love who is about to depart for America, where she later joins him. Bound by tradition, Josephine gives birth to seven children. The last, Valentina, is conceived in passion, born in secret, and given up for adoption.

Josephine spends the rest of her life searching for her lost child, keeping her secret even as her other children go off to war, get married, and make their own mistakes. Her son suffers in World War I. One daughter struggles to assimilate in the new world of the 1950s American suburbs, while another, stranded in England, grieves for a lover lost in World War II. Her granddaughters experiment with the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll in the 1970s. Poignant, sensual, and deeply felt, An Italian Wife is a sweeping and evocative portrait of a family bound by love and heartbreak.

REVIEW

I was extremely excited when I won An Italian Wife from Goodreads. I'm half Italian, and grew up surrounded by Italian culture. My grandma is one of fourteen children, so I'm familiar with the food and traditions that come with being an Italian-American. I could thus relate to the characters in An Italian Wife, and I think that is one reason why I found this story so emotionally beautiful. 

Hood is an amazing storyteller. Her writing is compelling, her characters are well-crafted, and her settings are pristinely described. I found An Italian Wife to be so interesting because of the dramatic events inside each chapter. I felt every emotion while reading this book – shock, sadness, happiness, relief, heartbreak, and so on. There is no denying that An Italian Wife is a great story, and one that I would definitely read again.

That being said, I did have a few problems with the organization of the book. The story is told in the third person, with the book being broken down into three parts, each based on a generation of Josephine Rimaldi's family.  In the first part, readers follow Josephine as she is married off as a teenager and moved to America where she begins her family. This first section is dedicated to Josephine, and then her children. Time flies by quite quickly, and I had to try to calculate the years in my head. 

Next, the second and third parts of An Italian Wife follow Josephine's grandchildren and great-grandchildren respectively. Each chapter will focus on a different character. We hear that person's story and learn about his or her life before moving onto the next family member. On the one hand, I really enjoyed this style of writing because I got to meet each of Josephine's family members on an individual basis. On the other, it was frustrating to become attached to a character only to have that person's story end on a cliffhanger and never find out what becomes of him or her. Overall, this organizational structure was quite difficult to get used to, but I did come to like it in the end. 

In addition, I was often confused by the characters in the book, and had to keep referencing the family tree in the front of the novel. This is because many characters have a nickname that is used interchangeably with his or her real name. Hood also assumes that readers will understand that "Mama Jo" is "Josephine" later on in the book without any explanation. I definitely would have appreciated, if not less characters, less nicknames. 

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed An Italian Wife despite my problems with the novel's organization and confusing cast of characters. The story is just beautifully laid out, and I found it extremely touching. This is a book I would love to see adapted as a television program, as it would last several seasons thanks to the decades it spands and the great characters it follows. Producers take note!

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Book Review | When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez

When I saw the cover of When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez on NetGalley I immediately hit the "Request" button. Okay, so maybe I looked at the synopsis first to make sure it was something I was interested in, and when the first line read that it was 13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson, I was intrigued to say the least. I sat down to read When Reason Breaks on a chilly Saturday and finished it that day.

When Reason Breaks follows two sixteen-year-old girls as they begin their sophomore year of high school. The story opens with a chilling suicide scene that takes place in March. The cryptic scene is a startling yet captivating way to begin the book, as the next chapter jumps back eight months so the reader can come to understand the backstory.

Emily and Emily Elizabeth (known as Elizabeth in the story) are the two protagonists. When Reason Breaks is told in the third person, and for the first 40 or so pages I was extremely confused because I didn't realize the book was following two characters. It wasn't until Elizabeth flicks off Emily on the school bus that it finally clicked. This was a bit frustrating to me, as in hindsight I understand why the author chose for the girls to have such similar names, but for me as a reader it was not a great way to start the book.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy much of When Reason Breaks. Throughout the book, readers can never be 100% sure what exactly is going on in both Emily and Elizabeth's lives. The third person narrative helps to keep the mystery surrounding their stories alive, and I kept turning pages to find out which details would be revealed next. For instance, Emily seems to have it all together – she's perfect and popular, has great friends and a caring boyfriend, but something is lurking beneath that haunts her. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is the stereotypical "bad girl" who is always getting into trouble. It's only logical that their English teacher Ms. Diaz pairs the two together for a project, and that they slowly start opening up to one another.

On the other hand, there were several things in When Reason Breaks that led me to give the book a 3 out of 5 star rating on Goodreads. First, the author incorporates the Spanish language into the story, as Emily is Latina. I thought it was great to include some diversity in the book, but unfortunately the phrases used were not translated, and it was not easy to detect their meanings from the surrounding language. I say this because I do speak Spanish, and while I could understand the phrases she used, I know that non-Spanish speakers would have trouble with those sections. Furthermore, some of the Spanish grammar was incorrect, which very much surprised me. Thus, the lack of translations and incorrect usage detracted from the overall story for me.

In the same way, Rodriguez mentions geographic location only passively in When Reason Breaks. I know that the story must take place in New England, because Emily's brother Austin attends Amherst College and Ms. Diaz notes that Emily Dickinson lived nearby. However, it is never stated exactly where the high school is located, and that was annoying to me. I'm assuming that the book is set in Connecticut, as there was a Red Sox–Yankees split between characters, and because Rodriguez herself is from Connecticut. However, the book would be much stronger with a written setting, as it wouldn't leave the reader wondering exactly where the characters are.

My last main criticism of the story deals with the issue of suicide. I think it is great that When Reason Breaks sheds light on a controversial issue that affects too many teenagers each year. Mental illness and suicide are so stigmatized that the more literature about it the better. However, I think Rodriguez did not take the issue far enough. What I mean is, it was not clear in the story why the character was suicidal. We don't get to see what's going on in her head, and we don't get to read her journal (that we know exists). It would be extremely helpful to know more about what the character was going through in order to help spot the signs of suicide, and so readers can begin to recognize these signs in real life. Suicide is a very serious topic, and When Reason Breaks only scratched the surface of it.

In the end, I am glad I read When Reason Breaks. It is a good young adult contemporary, and a promising debut for Rodriguez. I thought the incorporation of Emily Dickinson's work and life into the story was quite interesting, and made for something unique. I do recommend this book for contemporary lovers, but want to mention this is on the younger side of young adult. When Reason Breaks is available for pre-order on Amazon HERE and will be released on February 10, 2015.

I received 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 | 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.

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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. 

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 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. 

Book Review | The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 3)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE IMMORTAL RULES AND THE ETERNITY CURE, THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE BLOOD OF EDEN TRILOGY. PLEASE SEE MY NON-SPOILER REVIEWS HERE AND HERE.

Today I'm bringing you my non-spoiler review of the final book in the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa, The Forever Song. If you have not read books one and two in the series, I do not recommend this review, but if you are debating whether or not to get the last book in the series, this is the perfect post for you!

With the crazy cliffhanger at the end of The Eternity Cure, I'm sure you wanted to pick up The Forever Song right away. In this book, we follow Allison, Jackal, and Kanin as they search for Sarren and try to stop him from completing whatever evil plan he's brewing. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way, and at times the characters are truly unpredictable. I loved how epic this book was, and read through it as quickly as possible.

That said, The Forever Song was a solid, four star book for me. One of the plot points greatly mimicked another popular dystopian book, and I felt like the ending itself was a bit rushed. I would have enjoyed a lengthier ending scene, but was overall happy with the series's conclusion.

This was my first time reading any books by Julie Kagawa, and I greatly enjoyed the experience! I would give the Blood of Eden trilogy a total rating of 4.5 stars, and definitely look forward to rereading it again in the future. This series has inspired me to pick up more paranormal books, and I definitely want to read more of Kagawa's works. I would also love a companion series to the Blood of Eden trilogy in Jackal's perspective! That would be awesome!

You can purchase The Forever Song on Amazon HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you've read the series! I would love to discuss it!

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 Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 2)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE BLOOD OF EDEN TRILOGY, THE IMMORTAL RULES. PLEASE SEE MY NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF THE IMMORTAL RULES HERE.

Today I'm continuing on with my reviews of the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa with my thoughts on the second book in the series, The Eternity Cure. This review will remain spoiler free, but I only recommend reading this if you've read the first book in the series.

The Eternity Cure follows Allison after she leaves the humans in Eden. She is on the hunt for Kanin, as her blood tie is alerting her that something is wrong, and he may be nearby. But to Allison's surprise, her blood tie leads her to another vampire that she must befriend in order to help find her father and save him from whatever it is that is tormenting him. What follows is an exciting and adventurous journey that reads like a horror novel.

I know my summary is a bit vague, but I think it's best to go into The Eternity Cure not knowing much. The Eternity Cure is definitely my favorite book in the series! It's funny and dark at the same time, and the characters are awesome. My one criticism with The Eternity Cure is that there are a few inconsistencies in the story between this book and The Immortal Rules. These inconsistencies don't have an effect on the overall plot, but were quite noticeable to me when I read the books back to back. This is definitely an editing mistake, and it takes a bit of credibility away from the author when I can notice these holes in the story. Nonetheless, I rated The Eternity Cure a 4.5 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, and would have given it a full 5 stars had it not been for those inconsistencies.

If you've read The Immortal Rules and you are debating whether or not to continue on with the series, I think you really should! The Eternity Cure contains some background information to refresh the reader where the story is headed, so you don't need to worry about rereading the first book. You can purchase The Eternity Cure on Amazon HERE. Stay tuned for my review of the last book in the series, and, of course, let me know your thoughts 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 Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 1)

I've always been hesitant to read vampire books, especially in the young adult genre, since the Twilight phenomenon. Then I started hearing about the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa. It's described as a mix of vampires and dystopia, so I had to give it a try. I read all three books in this series back-to-back, and will be reviewing each book for you. This first review will be spoiler free, so it's perfect for those of you who are looking to learn more about the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules.

This series follows our main character Allison Sekemoto. She lives in a vampire district as an unregistered citizen. This means she is not recognized by the government, and thus isn't given food or any means of survival. However, Allison does not want to register, because registered citizens must give their blood to the vampires who rule over the city. Allison hates everything about the vampires. Not only did they kill her mother, but they've forced her into a life of crime.

One day, Allison goes outside of the city walls to hunt for food. She discovers a hidden, storage cellar of canned goods, and encourages her friends to help her raid it. Unfortunately, when they go to get the food, they are attacked by rabids – dangerous creatures that are vampire mutants. Allison's friends are killed, and she is on the verge of death when a vampire appears out of nowhere. He gives her the opportunity to become a vampire, or to die. Despite her hatred for vampires, Allison makes the choice to become a vampire and live forever. The remainder of The Immortal Rules follows Allison as she learns what it means to be a vampire, and follows her as she discovers the world that exists beyond her city's walls.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Immortal Rules, and gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. While the beginning of the book is a bit of a "typical dystopian," once the world-building is completed, the story develops into something very unique. I love Kagawa's character development, and the vampire versus human element that runs throughout the plot. My only issues with the book were very minor. I found some parts of the story very predictable, and some parts a bit slow. Otherwise, I loved everything about The Immortal Rules, and was ready to pick up the second book in the series right away.

If you are looking for a new spin on the dystopian genre, I highly recommend The Immortal Rules. This is also a great series if you want to give the paranormal genre a try, but are unsure of how you feel about vampires. You can purchase The Immortal Rules on Amazon HERE. Make sure to stay tuned for my review of the second book in the series, The Eternity Cure!

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 Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

I was lucky to receive an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling at BookCon earlier this year, and decided to give it a read before it's released in October. The Diamond Thief is a genre-bending, young adult story, and it's like nothing I've ever read!

Our protagonist is Rémy Brunel, a sixteen-year-old trapeze artist who works in a traveling circus. While the circus is in London, the circus master gives her an assignment – she must steal a rare and expensive diamond. Rémy accepts the task, since she and her fellow circus members are all trained to steal as well as perform in the show. But as Rémy goes undercover to scope out the diamond's whereabouts, things don't go according to plan.

The story that follows is full of surprises. The Diamond Thief is part historical fiction, part mystery, part steampunk, part love story, and so on. It truly reaches a variety of genres while still forming a fantastic story with a number of unexpected turns. I was thoroughly impressed with the uniqueness of The Diamond Thief, and Gosling's ability to create an imaginative story.

My only drawback with this book is that the writing is very pragmatic. I can tell it is written for a younger audience, and that took away from my reading experience a bit. With such a mysterious plot, I would have liked a different writing style that showed instead of told. Nonetheless, I give The Diamond Thief a four out of five stars on Goodreads for its ingenuity, and recommend it to younger readers (middle school through high school). The Diamond Thief will be officially released on October 1, 2014, and available for purchase 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 | Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Back in May I attended a Teen Panel at Barnes & Nobel Union Square, and one of the authors on the panel was Sarah Mlynowski. She was there to market her latest release, Don't Even Think About It, and even though I knew nothing about the book I decided to pick it up and get it signed. I'm so glad I did!

Don't Even Think About It is a young adult book that is a mix between the contemporary and paranormal genres. It takes place at a New York City high school, when the sophomore class is getting its annual flu shots. Everything is going according to plan, until a few hours after the shots are administered the students start hearing things. It turns out the shots gave the students mind-reading abilities! What follows is a hilarious story told in the first-person plural from the point-of-view of all the students with ESP.

I loved Don't Even Think About It, and finished it in a few hours. Mlynowski's writing is quite easy to read, and I loved how she used the first-person plural to demonstrate how none of the kids have secrets anymore since they can hear each others' thoughts. I also thought it was great that the novel accurately portrayed high school life even with this paranormal spin on the story. There was teenage love, teenage angst, and even though I'm a twenty-something, I still loved the story. I laughed out loud many times, and thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.

I gave Don't Even Think About It a full 5 star rating on Goodreads, simply because it was a great read and I can't tell you one thing I didn't like about it. This is also the first book in a new series, and I can't wait for the next one to be released. I highly recommend Don't Even Think About It if you're looking for a fun read. You can buy it on Amazon HERE. I look forward to checking out more books by Sarah Mlynowski in the future!

 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 | Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Ever since I read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (full review HERE), I've been excited to check out more of her work. I luckily received a free ARC of her newest adult novel, Landline, at BookCon earlier this year, and couldn't wait to read it!

Landline is the story of Georgie McCool. She's a television writer, and she and her writing partner Seth are finally getting their big break. The problem? They need to work through the Chistmas holiday, and Georgie is supposed to go with her husband Neal and their two children to Neal's parents' house in Nebraska. The couple argues, and Neal decides to bring the kids to Nebraska and leave Georgie alone in Los Angeles for the holidays.

While Neal is gone, Georgie tries to reach him on his cell phone several times, but never gets to him. Her marriage seems like it's falling apart, and her parents even think Neal's left her for good. Georgie decides to spend the night with her parents, and digs out an out landline phone that she used to call Neal on when they were dating in college. Georgie dials the landline number at Neal's parents' house, and finally reaches him, but something weird happens. The Neal from 15 years ago picks up the phone! The book follows Georgie as she talks to this Neal from the past, and tries to figure out if she can fix her marriage, or if things are truly over.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but I did have a few issues with it. This story is just over 300 pages, and it took me the first 100 to really get into it. I was actually bored until Chapter 13 came to a close, and then I was hooked. My main issue, though, was that I absolutely hated the character Neal! He was a huge jerk, and had a depressing attitude. I knew that readers were supposed to root for Georgie and Neal to make their marriage work, but because I couldn't stand Neal, part of me wanted them to break up! That said, it would be really interesting to get this story from Neal's point of view. In fact, if Rainbow Rowell wrote that companion novel I'd read it in a second.

Those things aside, Landline was a lovely contemporary read. I love how Rowell includes popular culture references in her books, and it amazes me how at one moment I'm laughing out loud, and at the next I'm nearly crying. The magical realism element in this book was perfectly done as well. Readers will never know for sure whether Georgie was actually talking to the Neal from the past, or if something else was happening. That mystery and intrigue is what makes Landline so special.

I highly recommend Landline if you love the contemporary genre, and think it's a great adult book for readers transitioning out of young adult. It's a very quick read, and one that I hope to pick up again in the future. You can purchase Landline on Amazon HERE, and if you've already read the story, please let me know your thoughts 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.