Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Title: Wanderlost
Author: Jen Malone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 31st 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

Review

This is the perfect summer book.  It had everything I was looking for, romance, adventure, and humor.  Even having traveled more than a handful of times, I thoroughly enjoyed all the nerve-racking feelings Aubree felt on her first trip.  She is already an apprehensive traveler and on top of that she is in charge of the safety and happiness of an elderly tour group.  I truly felt for her.

Her travel struggles had me grinning through the entire book.  The fact that new and unknown foods wig her out was so relate-able and laughable.  I know when I travel there are times when I am just like, yea no thanks, plain bread please. (I know, terrible!)

Overall, I highly recommend Wanderlost; it was a cute and fun read.  I was laughing and constantly rooting her on.  She really sees past her tour members' age and she sees past her traveling fears, truly embracing the joy exploring can bring.  She finds a new part of herself through the course of the book that really gave the story an additional layer of depth.

The Crown by Kiera Cass

Title: The Crown
Series: The Selection #5
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 3rd 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Review

The Crown was a great conclusion to an entertaining and fun read.  Eadlyn has come quite far from the first couple chapters of The Heir; she is more aware of other feelings, open to love, and slowly maturing.  (I felt like I wanted to strangle her less ;) ) Overall she became a more like-able and respectable leader and main character.

My main reservation with this final book is that it felt a tad rushed.  Part of the selection process drama and the introduction to a new character felt like it was forced and merely used as a plot point not really adding much to the overall enjoyment of the story.  One of the candidates dismissals felt hasty, while I understood the reasoning it just seemed to be done rather quickly disregarding their recent past interactions.

In the end, Eadlyn picked the guy I was rooting for so that did make for a cute ending.  (I don't typically pick the guy that ends up getting the girl). I did enjoy that this book did not try to be a dystopian to the extent that the first three books did.  There are elements that linger from the first three books, and politics that do come into play but they merely are additions to the romance heavy plot.  Ultimately, The Crown for me was a easy read in this Bachelorette like drama filled love story!

Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas

Title: Ash & Bramble
Author: Sarah Prineas
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: September 15th 2015
Source:Copy provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review (Thanks HarperTeen)

Summary from Goodreads:

A prince.
A ball.
A glass slipper left behind at the stroke of midnight.
The tale is told and retold, twisted and tweaked, snipped and stretched, as it leads to happily ever after.
But it is not the true Story.
A dark fortress.
A past forgotten.
A life of servitude.

No one has ever broken free of the Godmother’s terrible stone prison until a girl named Pin attempts a breathless, daring escape. But she discovers that what seems to be freedom is a prison of another kind, one that entangles her in a story that leads to a prince, a kiss, and a clock striking midnight. To unravel herself from this new life, Pin must choose between a prince and another—the one who helped her before and who would give his life for her. Torn, the only thing for her to do is trade in the glass slipper for a sword and find her own destiny.

Review

Oh, what to say, what to say.  Ash and Bramble has a beautiful cover with an interesting and unique twist on a classic fairy tale.  Unfortunately it just was not a book for me.  I immediately struggled with the word building, I felt like I was dropped right into a world that I just did not understand.  The writing style did not help the lack of world building.  The point of views change randomly, sometimes by chapter, sometimes within a chapter, something I could never really adapt to.

Aside from the story building and writing style, there was immediate insta-love.  While sometimes I am okay with that because it does happen in fairy tales, this felt a bit forced.  Then we are introduced to the dreaded love triangle, at that point I debated just not continuing but I was far to curious in how the story was going to end.

Not many aspects of this book worked for me except for the overall concept.  The book has a unique take on a classic fairy tale with some cameos from other fairy tales.  Ash & Bramble had a different and intriguing premise that kept me going through the entire book even though other aspects fell short. Ultimately, Ash & Bramble had high potential and came up a bit short.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir
Series: The Selection #4
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: May 5th 2015
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Review

The Selection series is a bit of a guilty pleasure reading for me. I am aware of some of the series’ faults, and yet, they do not seem to detract from my overall entertainment wile reading. So I will caveat the review by saying, if you have not enjoyed the series thus far, then The Heir is also probably not for you. I also listened to The Heir’s audiobook which I found to be very well done.

The Heir starts off a little different. Spoiler alert - it’s about America and Maxon’s daughter, Eadlyn. Not going to lie, Eadlyn is not my favorite character but I do appreciate that it seems to be intentional. She is self-centered, bratty, whiny, and closed-off. But as the story progresses she starts to change her ways and slowly becomes a bit less of a brat and a bit more likeable. She does make mistakes and while on the one hand I wanted to shake some sense into her, on the other hand, I gave credit to her being a real, sometimes stubborn teenager. I do love the relationship she has with her brothers and parents, it is full of love and annoyance; it all felt very honest.

Similar to the previous books in the series, there is a secondary kind of behind the scenes plot line about the state of the country. While the caste system is no longer in state, the people of Illea are not happy. Aside from that, the plot focuses mainly on Eadlyn and the contestants. The Heir was entertaining; I enjoyed listening to all the dates and the drama among the contestants. At this point I have favorites but I am still undecided. There are a good variety of good matches and potential winners. I am unsure of who will actually win her heart but I do believe there will be a slight twist in the following book.

My biggest reservation was the cliffhanger ending, the book just ends. I will for sure read the last book but I do wish this one did not end so abruptly. Overall I found The Heir to be a light fun read that transports the reader back into the crazy world of Illea and into more Selection dramas!

Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Title: Falling Into Place
Author: Amy Zhang
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Source: BEA

Summary from Goodreads:
On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

Review

Falling Into Place has left me feeling a little conflicted. Part of me appreciated the thought-provoking, poignant story and the nonlinear style in which it was told but the other part of me found it really difficult to sympathize with someone as horrible as Liz.

Liz Emerson is completely and utterly broken inside. She blames herself for a tragedy that happened when she was just a child and has been self-destructing ever since. She is now the mean girl at school, ruining lives for sport, as a distraction, a defense-mechanism, or maybe even a cry for help. But no one knows that she is suffering. And now all of the horrible things that she's done have caught up to her and have begun to weigh on her conscience but she doesn't know how to fix or stop what she's started. She feels that it is too late for her redemption and thinks that she is doing everyone a favor by ridding herself from the world. It was horribly sad story and my heart did go out to Liz.

But at the same time the things that Liz did on a daily basis were terrible and cruel and I kind of hated her. She was a horrible person. She treated her closest friends no better, possibly even worse, and it disgusted me. How do you sympathize with someone like that? I don't think she deserved their loyalty at all. And I think she could have changed, or at the very least tried a little harder. She barely tried at all and it infuriated me. I understand that Liz was in a bad place, but I don't believe that is an excuse to treat other people the way that she did. This was the problem I had with really falling into the story (no pun intended).

So as you can see, I'm torn. I am settling on 3 stars because despite my problems with Liz, I do think it was a powerful story and told well. And now I leave you with a few quotes...

"She looked around and saw all of the broken things in her wake, and then she looking inside herself and saw the spidering cracks from the weight of all the things she had done. She hated what she was and didn't know how to change, and half an hour before she drove her car off the road, she saw that despite all of that, she didn't have enough force to stop the world from turning. But she had enough to stop her own." - pg 199

"Some people died because the world did not deserve them. Liz Emerson, on the other hand, did not deserve the world." - pg 238

"In that moment, Liz Emerson felt that she was forever looking up at people who were much, much better than she could ever be, and the only thing she was really good at was pulling them down to her level." - pg 263

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Title:The Jewel
Series: The Lone City #1
Author: Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date:September 2nd 2014
Pages: ARC, 358 pages
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Review

The Jewel, I had such I hopes for you.  I thought what a beautiful cover and interesting premise, I could not wait to dive into the book.  Unfortunately, the insta-love and main character were not for me.   Violet started out being a very unique, strong-willed and sometimes stubborn strong female lead.  As the story progressed I felt that her stubborn personality started to overpower her smart, strong-willed, intelligent decisions. By the end of the book, I just wanted to shake her silly.  Her life choices were infuriating at times.

Right along side with Violet's stubborn and just plain not smart decisions was the overwhelming insta-love. On a scale of 1-10 of instalove, one being rather subtle but still insta-love, I would rate the relationship between Violet and Ash about an 8!  I just could not stand behind it; after one encounter that was it, she was full commit.  

Insta-love and Violet aside, I did enjoy the setting and the overall concept. The setting is a bit similar to The Selection, with different levels in society each with their own jobs and roles.  The unique thing about The Jewel was the unique abilities the surrogates possessed and their role within that structured society.  I am still intrigued about how the story will play out, especially after the ending.  The ending took me by surprise in a good way, I was not expecting it; it is one of the main reasons I would consider picking up the next book.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Title:Something Strange and Deadly
Series: Something Strange and Deadly #1
Author: Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date:July 24th 2012
Pages: Hardcover, 388 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia...

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family as fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walkers by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor... from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. An now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Review

Since the last book in the series recently came out, I decided to start the series.  I was hesitant knowing it was a book about zombies; super gore-y zombies are not my thing yet I did really enjoy The Forest of Hands and Teeth so I figured I would give this one a chance.

The main complaint I had was the pacing, I felt that the story could drag at times; I could easily get distracted while reading, it just was not always capturing my attention.  I definitely recommend reading it in larger chunks or at once.  My reading experience improved when I really immersed myself and had the time to get into the story for more than half an hour.  My last issue, while it is not a huge complaint, the story was entertaining yet it left no resonating sentiment or lasting feelings.

On the flip side, I loved the steampunk aspects of the story; the unique technology mixed with a creepy paranormal Philadelphia was incredibly easy to visualize.  The romance took a backseat for  most of the story and never overshadowed the action and mystery. Eleanor and Daniel have some fantastic banter and a building tension.  Along with the romance, I applauded the characters building; each character had a their own personality and back story. Eleanor comes from an elite family that is on its way out of the high society circle, while Daniel and the team of Spirit Hunters has a colorful background fulled with lies, crimes, and necromancy.  I look forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing what the Spirit Hunters have to battle.  

Bottom Line

Something Strange and Deadly is a zombie filled, dark and spooky steam punk story that blends mystery, the paranormal, and high society drama.  I recommend it if you are looking for a different kind of zombie book with an interesting team of characters, descriptive gothic setting and  a strong female lead.  

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Title:Say What You Will
Author: Cammie McGovern
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date:June 3rd 2014
Pages: ebook, 352 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

Review

Say What You will was a completely impulsive read;  it was not really on my to-read list or even my radar for that matter.  I saw it in the library and remembered seeing one very good review for it and figure, why not! I am so glad I picked this one up.

The character development and conversations are the bright stars in this story; this is where I can see the comparison to Eleanor & Park.  Even though Amy cannot talk without a voice box, she is able to communicate so effectively.  Matthew is dealing with his own struggles when Amy just tornadoes into his life. Their relationship is harsh and honest yet beautiful at the same time.  The plot revolves around Amy and Matthew, starting from their first awkward interaction. The author addresses the struggles Amy faces, in all facets of her life, by having cerebral palsy.  Matthew is tasked with helping Amy but ends up truly admiring her and falling for her in his own unique way.

The story had some twists I was not expecting, I am not entirely sure how I felt about them to be honest.  I still really enjoyed the book but the twist did throw me.  I also seemed to struggle picturing both characters, I loved their strange dynamic and the individuality of each one yet for some reason I could not picture what they looked like when I imagined the story in my head.  It did not take away from the story it was just something I noted.

While the ending gave nice closure, I just wanted to keep reading and taking in the relationship between Amy and Matthew to see how their lives progressed.  Be prepared to be absorbed into the story and totally engrossed in the daily lives of these two fantastic characters.  

Bottom Line

Say What You Will took me by surprise, I was not really sure what to expect when I saw that it was The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park.  It was a truly unique story that had me captivated through every page, with unexpected twists and fascinating dialogues. I definitely recommend Say What You Will if you are in the mood for a different kind of contemporary read!

Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

Title: Ask Again Later
Author: Liz Czukas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Pages: 336
Source: ARC

Summary from Goodreads:
Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

Review

I am happy to report that Ask Again Later is the light and fluffy contemporary that everyone is saying it is. If you want to relive some of the best and worst of High School and share a few laughs with an easy-going protagonist, then this is the perfect choice.

I always enjoy a good parallel plotline because I like seeing how different choices have different outcomes. Heart has two very different Prom nights depending on which way the coin lands. One is a lot more disastrous than the other but they both have their moments. Between the Prom and the after party – all sorts of mayhem happens. There are wardrobe malfunctions, practical jokes, dance parties, dance catastrophes, fights, make ups, kidnappings, new love – and much more. I liked how some events that happened in one future, happened in the other as well. And I liked how despite what future Heart was in, both came together in the end, which spoke of fate.

Amid all of the Prom drama, there were a few issues that Heart had to deal with. The first was her brother not acting very brotherly. Truthfully, he pissed me the hell off. Heart did finally confront him about his jerkish behavior but the resolution was kind of poor. I wish this had received more closure. The second issue was Heart’s fear of commitment, which was a result of her mother having her and her brother at a young age and then abandoning them both. Heart overcoming her fear of relationships and owning up to her feelings was a main focus of the story, which ended in a good place. I think the romance in this book was sweet.

Despite some of the more serious themes I just mentioned, Ask Again Later didn’t have a lot of meat to it. Again, it was very much light and fluffy. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite light contemporary, but I did have fun reading it. I’d recommend it if you are in the mood for an easy and entertaining read with a lot of heart. (hah, pun intended!)

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Title: The Art of Lainey
Author: Paula Stokes
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 20, 2014
Pages: 384
Source: eBook

Summary from Goodreads:
Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

Review

The Art of Lainey definitely had its strengths. The incorporation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War as a guide for Lainey to win back her ex-boyfriend was a pretty brilliant premise. It was fun watching her apply ancient Chinese military strategy to her dating life, I must say. And I feel like I learned some battle strategy along the way. As for Micah, he was a pretty swoon-worthy fake boyfriend. Not only was he hot - I'll take a tattooed, mohawk-sporting, punk-loving male lead any day - but he was also really sweet and did some pretty cute things for Lainey. He was easily my favorite part of the story. I also really appreciated that Lainey was athletic, an attribute that I love seeing in female leads.

But one big thing kept me from really enjoying this book. That is, Jason was an ass, and it took entirely too long for Lainey to realize that.

Seriously, this put a damper on my entire reading experience. Every new thing that I learned about him, and the truth about how poorly he treated Lainey, only made me dislike him more. For Lainey to justify his actions and their relationship up until the very end, and be so very dependent on him, frustrated me beyond belief. I get that she was with him for a long time and wasn’t sure who she was without him. I wasn’t expecting her to get over him immediately. I expected there to be some growth and discovery. I just hoped that she would see the error in her ways much sooner than she did.

Because of her hang up on Jason, I couldn’t like Lainey as much as I think I otherwise would have. If I am being completely honest, I found her to be a little weak-minded. But most unfortunately, I couldn’t feel what was growing between her and Micah. This wasn’t a book overflowing with cutesy moments and lots of obvious feels. It was much more subtle and slow-burning than that. You needed to pay attention. But the fact that Lainey clung to Jason like white on rice, tainted every development that was made with Micah. Le sigh.

Bottom Line

While I did like The Art of Lainey, it didn't wow me as much as it did others. I guess how wow’ed you will be will depend on your tolerance for Lainey’s feelings toward Jason. Her excuses for him, and desperation to be in what appeared to me to be an unhealthy relationship, wore me out and hindered my overall reading experience. But otherwise, this book hit the mark.

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Title: The Vanishing Season
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 256
Source: ALA MW

Summary from Goodreads:
Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

Review

I found The Vanishing Season to have a certain dream-like quality to it. The story is a delicate one and didn't feel quite grounded in reality. The characters had a storybook way to them - a little young and a lot peculiar. That, and Jodi Lynn Anderson's writing was beautiful, seamless and floating, and wistful too. I feel like this will either work for readers or it won't. For me, I found that I liked this.

I can understand the criticism though too. The synopsis is deceiving. The perspective from which it is told is a small part of the story you will read. An important part, especially as the end nears, but small nonetheless.I wish it had been given more prominence because I loved this part of the story. On the surface, this book is really about a young girl who moved from the big city to the small town of Door County. She's adjusting to her new life and growing closer to her two neighbors, the fragile, childlike Pauline, and the quiet, steady Liam. Meanwhile, young girls are being murdered in a mysterious way and the people of Door County grow more fearful and distant by the day. But this isn't really a mystery, or a horror story. Actually, in reflection, the vanishing girls have very little to do with the story at all except to contribute to the mood.

The Vanishing Season is no Tiger Lily but it had its moments and its good qualities. It wasn't always so engaging but it had me curious and I read it easily. But sadly, I don't think it lived up to its promise. That said, I think this one may be better suited for a younger audience or fans of simple seeming stories with an understated elegance to them.

On the Fence by Kasie West

Title: On The Fence
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 320
Source: EW

Summary from Goodreads:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Review

I have developed a theory that Kasie West is superhuman. She must have some superpower related to storytelling that allows her to produce quality novel after quality novel faster than the average human being. There is no other explanation for how she does it.

This story charmed the hell out of me.

Charlie lost her mother at a young age and has since been raised by her father and 3 older brothers (4 if you count her neighbor Braden whose practically family). As a result, she’s a complete tomboy and doesn’t know the first thing about being a girl. So when her new job unwillingly introduces her to fashion and make-up and “girl-talk” she feels way out of her comfort zone, endearingly so. But her insecurities go deep. She worries other girls will be able to tell she is not like them, or that her brothers will make fun of her for wearing make-up and pretty clothes. And above all, she worries that no boy will like her without all that stuff.

I thought Charlie was great. I loved that she was competitive and loved sports and could hang with the best of them. As someone who has always been a bit of a tomboy, and feels more comfortable around guys than girls, I felt like I shared more similarities with Charlie than I do with the typical YA lead. So I could understand and relate to many of Charlie’s insecurities. My heart went out to her. But it made me all the more appreciative of the journey she went on that gave her confidence in herself.

The family dynamic in this book was PERFECT. I loved her brothers and wish I could steal them for myself. All of the teasing, and playful-bickering, and family-competition provided countless smiles and laughs. And I loved how protective they were of her, even if it made me feel a little bad for Charlie. Then there was her dad who was such a good father. He had his own share of moments that warmed my heart.

And the romance, of course, was adorable and left me smitten. Kasie West really knows how to tell a good love story. Just the right amount of suspense, anticipation, tension, and cuteness. I really could go on and on about this book because there is so much to this story that deserves mention. It is wonderful, unique, flawlessly written, emotional, layered, charming.

Like I said, she must have superpowers.

If you haven’t read Kasie West’s work before, you really need to. If you have, you know how talented she is and probably don’t need convincing.

Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Perfect Lies
Series: Mind Games #2
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 18th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 232 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

What I Liked

• The sibling bond. Family love is such a strong value that I do not always encounter in YA, so when I do I typically really enjoy it.  The love between the sisters, Fia and Annie is a driving force.  While there is romance in the story, the love is this story is between the siblings.  
• Awesome powers.  The girls in the story have awesome yet terribly dangerous powers.  
• The friendships.  Fia and Pixie were a great sarcastic and witty pair.  While on the other side of the story you have Eden and Annie that have such a heartfelt and comforting friendship.  Both sisters have friendships that play key roles in the story but are unique in their ways.  
• The romance.  Even though Fia and James are together the romance was still a back seat to the overall story.  This highlighted the the complicated supernatural, crazy unpredictable plot.  

What I Didn't

• Hard to remember.  I definitely needed a refresher.  Perfect Lies jumps right back into the crazy lives of Fia and Annie.  I highly recommend reading the two books back to back.  It would help with getting used to the story telling format. 
• The non-linear story telling format.  Unlike the first book, this time the non-linear, jumpy story telling combined with the alternating POVs confused me and detracted me from the story instead of improving the story.  I would try to remember all the little things from book one while being mentally tossed around by the format.  

Bottom Line

Perfect Lies was a pretty good ending to a crazy story.  There were definitely aspects that could have been a bit stronger but overall I enjoyed the duo-logy.  Though if you take anything away from this review... it should be: read them back to back!  (I really think it would improve the experience)
  

Rebel (Reboot #2) by Amy Tintera

Title: Rebel
Series: Reboot #2
Author: Amy Tintera
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Pages: 352
Source: EW

Summary from Goodreads:
After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

Review

"'Do you really think you killed her by handing her over to a few humans?' ...
 'There's no way Wren is dead,' ...
'I'd be scared, if i were you.'"

Last year Reboot took me by surprise. It had a unique premise, a badass female lead, a charming male lead, a sweet romance, and a gripping plot. It was funny and exciting. It had great plot development AND character development. Basically, Reboot was everything I could hope to have in a book.

Rebel is very much the same.

This book is non stop action from page one. One of the perks of being a duology is that there is no need to fill the pages with unnecessary drama, angst, sideplots, (you name it) just to stretch the story out. Every moment in this story was relevant and for the good of the plot. This book has rebel movements, rescue attempts, survival stories, revenge plots and more! And there is a whole lot of tension between and  among the reboots, humans and HARC officials to make for one exciting read.

Wren and Callum are as awesome as ever, especially Wren. She can give the best heroines a run for their money.  Their relationship didn't have that newness that it did in Reboot but they were a solid pair and that is something great in and of itself. And there was still character development - just of a different sort. The focus wasn't on Callum feeling too much and Wren too little, but more of Wren accepting herself as a leader and her and Callum wanting the same thing. There are some new character introductions as well - some you will root for, and others that will make your blood boil. 

Rebel is a great follow up to Reboot and if you haven't read either- they make a great pair. I definitely recommend these when in the mood for an action packed, science fiction story with strong characters and plot. I really enjoyed them!

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Title: Jellicoe Road
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Pages: 419
Source: Audiobook, Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
I'm dreaming of the boy in the tree. I tell him stories. About the Jellicoe School and the Townies and the Cadets from a school in Sydney. I tell him about the war between us for territory. And I tell him about Hannah, who lives in the unfinished house by the river. Hannah, who is too young to be hiding away from the world. Hannah, who found me on the Jellicoe Road six years ago.

Taylor is leader of the boarders at the Jellicoe School. She has to keep the upper hand in the territory wars and deal with Jonah Griggs - the enigmatic leader of the cadets, and someone she thought she would never see again.

And now Hannah, the person Taylor had come to rely on, has disappeared. Taylor's only clue is a manuscript about five kids who lived in Jellicoe eighteen years ago. She needs to find out more, but this means confronting her own story, making sense of her strange, recurring dream, and finding her mother - who abandoned her on the Jellicoe Road.

This was a complicated book. So complicated, in fact, that I think I would benefit from reading it again, maybe even more than once. But it was absolutely lovely, absolutely unique, and absolutely a must read.

Since this book already has so many positive reviews, I am just going to talk about what I liked.

What I Liked

Part of what makes this story so unique is the mystery in it. Taylor's dreams, Hannah's manuscript, the clues all around the town - all tie together to tell a brilliant, if not, heartbreaking tale spanning 18 years on the Jellicoe Road. Every little detail in this story has a purpose. And in the end, that purpose is clear. It all pieces together so well that it is a little awe-inspiring.

To build off of that, I loved the small town vibe. It was like every person, place and thing had its own history, own story to tell. And in some small way or other everyone and everything was connected.

I really liked Taylor and I admired that she was unapologetically herself - flaws and all. She didn't care what anyone thought of her and she didn't let anything or anyone define her. Maybe she could be a little selfish at times, but she was honest and great.

I enjoyed the romance between Jonah and Taylor. They were good for each other. They understood each other. It was sweet.

Really, all of the relationships in this story warmed my heart. Lots of love all around.

The territory wars between the Jellicoe School, Townies and Cadets was so much fun, albeit a little scary at times. But it provoked mostly excitement and laughs.

The writing was beautiful. Occasionally you find those books and you can tell that every word was carefully chosen, deliberate, and meaningful. This was one of those books. I think Melina Marchetta has a true gift for words. The story just flowed seamlessly and effortlessly.

What I Didn't

I didn't dislike anything, but this book was a little difficult to listen to on audio because I couldn't easily go back and reference an earlier part in the story, or reread something a second time around.  I struggled in the beginning to keep all of the people separate and I am not sure if I missed any connections as the book progressed. There was a lot to keep track of.  

  

Bottom Line

This is one heck of a story. It is interesting and emotional and impeccably told. Truthfully, you could never go wrong reading a book by Melina Marchetta, no matter the genre. I highly recommend this one among other contemporaries.

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must Die
Series: Dorothy Must Die #1
Author: Danielle Paige
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Pages: 432
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know? 

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling. 

 What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. 

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman's heart. Steal the Scarecrow's brain. Take the Lion's courage. Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Review

This book changed Oz for me forever. The Oz in this story was so vivid and horrifying that the innocence of it is lost to me. But it was epic.

This book is long and descriptive but I was so fascinated by it that I didn't much mind. But rather than me tell you, I think it's better that I show you.

 

Above is the Oz that we all know and love. And below, as shown through quotes, is the new Oz. 

The Tin Woodman:

"This Tin Woodman was not the Tin Woodman I remembered. By now I shouldn't have expected anything different - nothing was the way it was supposed to be in Dorothy's remade Oz. Still, I wasn't prepared for what I was looking at now. He looked more like a machine that had been cobbled together out of spare parts, a hodgepodge of scrap metal and springs and machinery pieces all held together by screws and bolts. His long, spindly legs were a complex construction of rods and springs and joints, and bend backward at his ankles like a horse's legs; his face was pinched and mean, with beady, flashing metal eyes and a thin, cylindrical nose that jutted out several inches from his face and ended in a nasty little point. His oversize jaw jutted out from the rest of his face in a nasty underbite, revealing a mess of little blades where his teeth should have been.
The only thing that was really familiar about him was the funnel-shaped hat he wore. I guess some things never change."

The Scarecrow:

"At Ozma's side stood a tall thin man dressed in a baby-blue, one-size-too-small suit. Beneath a small hat, bits of straw and yarn stuck out in every direction. His was was a skein of tightly pulled burlap with two unnervingly lifelike buttons sewn on in place of eyes. His lips were thin lines of embroidery stitched in pinkish-brown yarn underneath a painted on red triangle for a nose. His buttons were fixed right at me.
A chill shot through my body. It was the Scarecrow. Like the Tin Woodman, he had been twisted and warped into something I hardly recognized." 

Dorothy: 

"She was both exactly and nothing like I could have imagined. This was not the same girl I'd read about. She was wearing the dress, but it wasn't the dress exactly - it was as if someone had cut her familiar blue-checked jumper into a million little pieces and then put it back together again, only better. Better, and, okay, a little bit more revealing. Actually, more than a little bit. Not like I was judging.
Instead of a farm girl cotton it was silk and chiffon. The cut was somewhere between haute couture and French hooker. The bodice nipped, tucked, and lifted. There was cleavage.
Lots of cleavage.
Dorothy's books were out to here, her legs up to there. Her face was smooth and unblemished and perfect: her mouth shelacked in plasticky crimson, her eyes impeccably lined in silver and gold. Her eyelashes were so long and full that they probably created a breeze when she blinked. It was hard to tell how old she was. She looked like she could have been my age or years older. She looked immortal.
She had her hair pulled into two deep chestnut waves that cascaded down her shoulders, each one tied with a red ribbon. Her piercing blue eyes were trained right on me."

The Lion:

"Really, he was barely recognizable as a lion at all. He looked like a monster, like some warped nightmare version of the king of the jungle. He was huge and golden, with bulging, grotesque muscles and a filthy, snarled mane. His lips were curled back, baring a mouth crowded with sharp, long, crooked fangs.

At first, it looked like the Lion and the man were kissing. But they weren't - their mouths were inches apart, not quire touching. The man looked like he was struggling, but then his mouth fell open, too, as his face contorted in pain and something that looked like red smoke came spewing violently out of him. I couldn't tell whether it was vomit, or blood, or something worse. Whatever it was, the Lion lapped it up hungrily.

'What's he doing?' I asked in horror, gripping Nox's arm.

'The Lion eats the fear of others,' Nox explained in a whisper. 'It's how he survives. How he gets stronger.'"

And there is so much more where that came from- about the witches, and the land, and the Wizard and Ozma. This book is a complete re-imagining of Oz that is twisted and evil and fantastic.

The world-building was my favorite part and I think the most noteworthy part of the story. It's really the focus of book one, as the plot is a little slow to develop and only just getting started in the end. But there is the promise of greatness. I think the story that is developing is so much fun. I loved the idea that Dorothy is evil. I loved how Good was Wicked and Wicked was Good. I loved the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked and the plot to assassinate Dorothy. I enjoyed the magic. And the ancillary characters were strong. I felt kind of indifferent towards Amy herself, but I think she showed pretty good development so far, and she is likable. There is room for her to really grow on me as an MC.

I definitely recommend this. This is a standout book.

Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan

Title: Uninvited
Series: Uninvited #1
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Pages: 384
Source: ARC, ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

Review

What if you were told that you were destined to become a murderer? 

Because Davy was told she would be. 

"My lungs swell at the unfairness of it all. I've never even been in a fight. Not even in elementary school. It's ridiculous to imagine me committing one of these infractions he describes. I want to scream: Look at me! I'm not bad! I'm not a monster!"

How long would you hold out hope that your life could stay the same? 

Because Davy's perfect life shattered immediately. She's taken out of school, away from her sheltered life and forced to spend every day in a cage with other HTS carriers. Her hope doesn't last long. 

How long do you think others would keep believing in you, feel safe around you, love you or be your friend? 

Because everyone bails on Davy except for her brother. Her best friend is HORRIBLE. Her (ex) boyfriend almost just as bad. Even her parents avoid her. 

How long would you keep believing in yourself before you started to doubt everything you ever knew?

"I can't hear him say that I'm not like the others...that I'm better than all the rest of them. Not when I don't know if it's true.

To know that, I have to know that what's inside of them, isn't inside of me. And I can't know that for sure."

How long could you hold it together? 

How long before what everyone says is true? 

I loved this book. It was emotional, thought-provoking, suspenseful, exciting. I really sympathized with Davy. She struggles with losing everything she knows and surviving this new life of hers. Being told she's a killer and being thrown in with other killers. Practically defenseless. Can you imagine? Fortunately she has Sean. It's not your typical romance but you want to root for it. He's so supportive and so protective of her. In his own way. 

It wasn't the most fast-paced of books but it was always interesting. And it really packed the feels. Again, I loved it. I can't wait for the next one. 

ARC REVIEW: Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West

Title: Split Second
Series: Pivot Point #2
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Pages: 360
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Pivot Point blew me away last year. It was the first parallel future story I read - and LOVED - and it also sported a nice Sci Fi element where the kids had powers - so double LOVE. Then the ending left me reeling and I needed this sequel like I needed air (queue Jordin Sparks song). If you want to read my review for Pivot Point, you can find it here.

The beginning of Split Second was tough for me because of where Pivot Point left off. I don't want to say much for those of you who haven't yet read Pivot Point, but I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Addie could only choose one future and so the other one didn't happen - the one I wanted to happen but could understand why it couldn't (curious? Go read PP now!) I had to get used to things being the way they were and let's just say I can be very stubborn.

But once things got rolling, it was only uphill from there. Split Second was just as exhilarating as Pivot Point. It was suspenseful, flirtatious, unpredictable, sweet, infuriating, funny... There was all this speculation about the Compound. Curiosity over extending abilities. Great romances. Lurking threats. There were moments that had my blood boiling. Moments that had me on the edge of my seat. And moments that had me smitten. After a certain point it was un-put-down-able, I just had to know how things ended. And I can say that I am very happy with the way they did. Not quite perfectly, but as perfect as can be expected given the direction of the story (if that makes any sense).

The chapters alternate between the POVs of Laila and Addie in this sequel. I loved getting to know Laila better because I thought she was a riot in Pivot Point. She is just as entertaining this time around. And Addie is as genuine and likable as always.

NOW LET'S TALK BOYS. Obviously I love Trevor. TREVOR ALL DAY ERR DAY. I don't think I could ever get my fill of this boy. He's the silent and sweet but super sexy type. But Trevor has to share the spotlight in Split Second because we are introduced to a new swoon-worthy male - Connor! This guy... I don't think there is a more perfect guy for Laila. She was so thrown off by him and him by her. Now I love Addie and Trevor - they are adorable together - but Laila and Connor are HOT. They have this whole dynamic that was just... it lit up the pages.

To wrap things up I want to quote a moment between Addie and Trevor that made me laugh out loud. This is just a glimpse of the fun that awaits you in a Kasie West book.

"'Addison,' he said, stopping my Search before it started.
I looked up and barely saw the flash of an object as it hit my face. 'Ouch.' The kid's shoe landed on the step below me with a thump, then rolled down a few more. 'Did you just throw a shoe at me?'
'I'm so sorry.' He rushed forward and sat on the step below me. 'I thought you would move fast and catch it.'
...He retrieved the shoe, then held it out for me. 'You have my permission to throw this at my face as hard as you can.'"

Kasie West is 3 for 3 in my book. First Pivot Point, then The Distance Between Us, and now Split Second - three books, three home runs. I love everything she writes. And she is pumping books out in record speed. That makes her a rockstar. If you haven't picked up a book by her yet, you need to. Otherwise, you are missing out!

REVIEW: Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

Title: Boundless
Series: Unearthly #3
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 22nd 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 448 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

---

• Boundless tied the whole series together very well.  I was not left wondering and felt satisfied with the way it ended.  
• Christian.  By the end of the book I was just rooting for Christian, not for him to be with Clara since I was definitely Team Tucker there but for him to just be happy.  He is a good guy and a good friend.  The Clara-Christian friendship was one of the favorite relationships in this book.  I felt like the dynamic and nature while dealing with college and crazy angel wars was well developed and realistic.  Their friendship was not forced by any means.  
• The plot took turns I was not expecting, there were a couple curve balls and I liked that.  Some of the craziness with Angela and trust in old enemies were not anticipated.  It kept the story entertaining.  

---

• While I liked the overall conclusion to the series, parts of this book's ending where not my favorite.  Some of it seemed to be a bit stretch, particularly some of the scenes involving Tucker at the end.  
• Some of the characters (Angela) got on my nerves.  Even though I know there is some reasons for her actions/mood her character was not my favorite.  I just wanted the story to move on from it. 
• The love triangle got to be overwhelming.  It might be that I read the first two books a long while ago and I was just not invested to the characters any longer.  I just felt like I had enough of the back and forth.  

---

Boundless was a fast paced, surprising, and happy conclusion to the Unearthly series. The writing is fantastic and it so easy to just delve into the this world filled with part-Angels.  I would not say this book is the best in the series but it did finish the series nicely.