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!