The Sweetest Thing

Details

Title: The Sweetest Thing

Author: Christina Mandelski

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Baking, Realistic Fiction, Family
Rating: 6/10
Continuation: No continuation yet.
Pages: 336

Summary

Sheridan Wells is obsessed with her cakes - she spends every second she can at the bakery. Unfortunately, her life is far from perfect. Her mother left their family for another man when she was 7 and her father is too wrapped up in his restaurant to notice anything. Sheridan is perfectly convinced that finding her mother will solve all her problems, but her father's potential cooking show throws a wrench in her plans. 

Review

Hmm... this book was interesting, because it was a little weird. I mean the premise wasn't exactly revolutionary, but it also isn't something I've ever seen before. I picked this read up solely based on the fact that it was based on cakes. As an avid baker myself, I thoroughly enjoy seeing baking worked into story plot lines, as it's just something I find myself relating to. This book was a really light read - only took me a few hours to finish cover to cover.

⚠[BE WARNED: SPOILERS AHEAD]⚠

As far as chick-lits go, the book does try to touch on some difficult issues, which I do appreciate. Sheridan's father can be frustrating and selfish at times, but that only adds to the realism of the narrative. Instead of being portrayed as the ultimate villainess, Sheridan's mother is just a broken woman flitting about and flaking when things get difficult. Instead of firmly painting each parent in black or white, the writer delicately develops both characters and humanises them by making them multi-dimensional. This can be quite rare, especially where controversial topics are concerned, as the writer is often eager to distance themselves from the negative connotations. Mandelski takes a risk here and it pays off. Personally, I loved the fact that there wasn't a single character portrayed as 100% good or bad (except perhaps Haley blegh! What purpose did she even serve!?).



Sheridan's hot new beau is a bit dumb and obsessed with *ahem* "defacing her temple", but he also seems to genuinely care about her as a person. Instead of taking the easy way out and portraying him as a cheater or a manipulator, Mandelski dares to break the mould. The same applies to Sheridan's friends, trying to be supportive besties, while also speaking up when she's being an absolute idiot.

BREAKING NEWS: Just a fangirl moment - I loved Jake for no reason in particular. I can't explain it, except for the fact that he just seemed like a good dude and the description of those kisses had me dead 😍. Felt like an important detail to share. We now return you to your regular transmission.

Now, here's a few things that bothered me. Throughout the book, Sheridan's character is a little too naive. I understand her need to cling to the past, but at some point, realistically, she would have come to terms with her mother's disappearing act. Instead, she pretty much acts like her mom left yesterday and will be back any second now. It really frustrated me to see Sheridan keep pushing away the people she loved, in hopes that this elusive figure would materialise at some point, 8 years later. Obviously, this plays a key role in the narrative, but it definitely could have been handled better.



Another issue was the fact that the storyline really wasn't developed in any one specific portion. There were several running sub-plots, but nothing was really well-explained or expanded upon. The loose ends really gave the impression that these plot points were a half-hearted attempt at beefing up the word count, instead of elements valuable to the narrative. Some examples would be Sheridan's father's romance with the TV show producer or Sheridan's sudden love story with the hottest stud in school. I was quite disappointed with how little any of these plot points were interconnected - I mean what even was the point of her father's romance, since nothing really came of it!? As I said at the beginning, just plain weird.



Overall, the novel had its good bits and its bad bits, but I didn't mind it much as a palate cleanser. If you're looking for deep introspection or clever plot twists, this book isn't for you. It's exactly what you'd expect and predictable at every turn (Sheridan's mother doesn't magically become a better person. What a surprise! ), but sometimes that's not necessarily a bad thing. If you just need something fun to read to clear your mind, I'd suggest giving this book a shot.

Lucky Fools

Details

Title: Lucky Fools

Author: Coert Voorhees

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Rating: 7/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 293

Review

Lucky Fools follows the protagonist David Ellison, who has his sights set on Julliard. His parents want him to focus on the nearby Stanford university, pointing out that it is foolish to throw away his private education to study acting. 

David, on the other hand, is determined to follow his dreams. As his audition for the prestigious Julliard approaches, David throws himself into his school's latest production of The Great Gatsby. Enter Vanessa, his beautiful costar who undeniably attracts him. He is caught between his devotion to Ellen, his long-term girlfriend and the gorgeous Vanessa. David finds himself stuck in a love triangle of his ow making, with his relationship ready to plunge into disaster. 

To make the situation even more complicated, Oak Fields Prep is attacked by The Artist, a mysterious prankster set on ruining the college aspirations of Oak Field students. He sabotages the school's highest achievers and David, as the star of every play, is the next potential target.

I have to say, when I finished this book, I wasn't sure what I had just read. First of all, a contemporary novel for guys? About time. It was an interesting concept and quite insightful. It was a light read, but it wasn't high school fluff. The book extracted a range of responses from me. I was laughing out loud, gasping and at times, was just as confused as David was. David was a hilarious character, if not a little full of himself. The only problem was that the novel had too many plots going at the same time. David has conflict with his parents and a love triangle between Vanessa and Ellen. On top of that, he has to worry about the artists. It was a complete mess in certain parts of the book and the reader was very confused, as to which aspect to concentrate on. 

The reason found parts of it easy to relate to is because the pressure David faces from his school, parents and dreams is very similar to most high school students. I have to say that the plot was too jumpy. Voorhees snapped from point to point without any explanations. I was forced to draw my own conclusions from the story. I also felt that the ending is what brought the book down a couple notches. I felt it was rushed and all over the place. It was open-ended and left more plot points unresolved than resolved. I was looking forward to the Artist's identity being revealed throughout the book, so the ending disappointed me thoroughly. 

I also found the ending very unrealistic. Stanford has announced that only one student from Oak Field Prep can make it David's grades aren't up to par. He has no extra curricular activities on his resume except acting. His overall school participation isn't very high. This profile doesn't make for a very promising Stanford candidate. Yet, David gets into Stanford, when the competitive school hold several, more qualified candidates such as Vanessa and Ellen! It's quite hard to believe that David's essay was so fantastic, that the board overlooked all his flaws.

All in all, the book is fun and humorous so I will recommend it, but a clear or well-thought out novel cannot be expected.

My Sister's Keeper

Details

Title: My Sister's Keeper

Author: Jodi Picoult

Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Year: 2005

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Drama, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Rating: 5/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 423

Review

Thirteen-year old Anna Fitzgerald is sick of being poked and prodded. She has undergone countless medical procedures so her older sister Kate can fight the leukemia she has had since age 2. In fact, Anna was genetically engineered so she could be a bone marrow match for her sister. She never challenged her role in this - until now. Anna begins to wonder who she truly is. In the process of separating herself from her sister, she makes decisions which could tear the family apart and affect her sister fatally.

She goes to a lawyer, Alexander Campbell, to medically emancipate herself from her parents. Her social worker, Julia, has some interesting drama with Mr. Campbell.

**This review contains several spoilers**

Where do I start on this? This novel had an interesting premise. Reading the blurb got me extremely excited to dig right in. Did the book live up to its expectations? I'd say not. Part of the reason I was disappointed was the fact that I had heard several people raving about this book and expected a lot more. 

I found that while detailed and descriptive, the book contained way too many gruesome details about the medical procedures. I found this aspect of the novel extremely depressing. The whole concept of having another child just to provide for your sick daughter very sickening. This said, I also have to commend Picoult on having the courage to approach such a controversial issue. 

Picoult's dialogue in the novel is extremely impressive. Her knack with language and her crafty use of words makes up for some of the book's downfalls. This said, I also find that her style of writing is very cliched. Each chapter ends with some sort of profound statement or revelation which, frankly, is too sappy for my taste. 

The saving grace of this book is the romantic sub-plot between Anna' lawyer, Alexander Cambell and her social worker, Julia. I am a sucker for romance and the romance in this novel plays a crucial role in lifting the otherwise depressing tone in the novel. I also find that the light suspense Picoult builds about the reason behind Campbell's guard dog quite interesting. It's one of the reasons I stuck with the book through to the end. 

Another exasperating aspect of the novel is the mother playing favorites. This character was given too much leeway in the novel. The author made a concerted effort to balance the mother's point of view, but I personally felt that her behavior should be reprimanded more often in the novel. She clearly plays favorites, and makes no effort to hide it. She treats Anna like a source for spare parts instead of a child. She stops her from doing the things she loves just so she can get procedures for Kate - here's the interesting part - that have no guarantee of actually helping her. While I personally find this confusing, I understand that Picoult makes an effort to provide both opinions, as to not sound biased. I will give her credit for making an effort to not mold the reader's opinion on this topic.

Now here's the kicker - Anna ends up winning the case against her family, yet conveniently gets into a car accident. She is pronounced brain dead but her kidney is up for grabs. The mother immediately pulls the plug and the kidney, of course, goes to Kate. The girl is then magically cured of the leukemia she has been battling for 16 years and she lives happily with her parents and brother. Is this really a moral Picoult wants to give to the reader? Don't bother fighting for your independence, because you'll never end up winning!? The ending really threw me for a loop and it came out of absolutely nowhere. It is meant to be shocking, but I find that it is way too sudden.

While this book does have an interesting premise and impeccable writing, I will not recommend it unless you're willing to walk around for a week with a grey cloud over your head! 

Audrey, Wait!

Details

Title: Audrey, Wait!

Author: Robin Benway

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Year: 2008

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Music, Humor

Rating: 10/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 320

Review

Audrey, a normal California high school student, breaks up with her narcissistic boyfriend, Evan, the lead singer of a a band called the Do-Gooders. He writes a song about her the very next day called "Audrey, Wait!". The song becomes so popular, it rockets to the top of the Billboards Top 20.

Suddenly, Audrey is famous. She has rabid fans hounding her, the hunky lead singer of the famous Lolitas wants her as his muse and the Internet is following her every move. She can't even hang out with her best friend or new crush without getting spotted and followed by the paparazzi. The novel follows Audrey as she has amazing amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV and showing the world who she really is.

This novel was exquisite. It is a perfect example of contemporary writing. I enjoyed this book immensely for a variety of reasons. The story line was wonderfully realistic and modern. Every section of the novel displays a taste of present day, from slang used appropriately to mention of well-known media outlets such as MTV and People Magazine.

The style of writing was quite wonderful too. I found that Benway has a knack for making the writing upbeat and interesting. The novel has several strategically placed quips, exclamations and jokes, making the overall reading experience quite quirky. It is also downright hilarious and the reader will be finding it a challenge to keep their laughter in check.

 A romantic relationship develops between James and Audrey, which is frankly too cute. They have their fair share of arguments and problems, but they are very understanding of each other and their affection for each other shines through. Their romance is a major sub-plot in the novel.

The book is also based on music. References are made to the song in question, songs from other genres and other bands/singers. This elements, while not major, can prove to be quite interesting and though-provoking for music junkies. 

This book has been recommended a lot and just reading its blurb got me excited. The troubles I went through to find and read it.... I will most certainly recommend it for both male and female readers, because this book barely edges into chick lit.

The Ex-Games

Details

Title: The Ex-Games

Author: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Year: 2009

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Sports, Chick Lit

Rating: 9/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 303

Review

Hayden and Nick used to be a huge item, but things soon ended with a highly publicized breakup. Four years  later, Hayden's two best friends end up dating Nick's and it seems like they're meant to be.

Hayden wins in the girls division of a local snowboarding competition. Nick is unimpressed and claims that she couldn't compare to a boy. Hayden challenges him to compete against her and prove that he's not all talk. It soon turns into a battle of sexes, with mutual friends taking sides.  The friendly competitions soon becomes heated and the couple ends up re-igniting their flame. 

This novel is a whole bunch of FUN! It is just the thing for all the girls out there. It is a perfect combination of flirtation, competition and a whole lot of drama. This novel achieves the optimum portrayal of a typical high schools, using the art of description. I find that Echols has done a remarkable job with her characters. She is able to use her wonderful writing skill to manipulate the reader's perception of her characters as she pleases. She makes the two protagonists likable and relatable. I find that it is Hayden's spunk and Nick's charm, which makes the novel a page-turner.

The chemistry between Hayden and Nick is quite clear and Echols manages to make their romance an interesting adventure, with strategically placed flirtation and physical gestures. Their romance is a major sub-plot in the novel and spices things up. Suspense builds up, as the reader wonders what the next twist or turn in their relationship will be. 

I also find it commendable that Echols manages to balance the book very well. She does not focus purely the romance and high school drama, but introduces an element unheard of in chick lit - sports. Her introduction to snowboarding is quite interesting and she is well-informed. The book uses a lot of snowboarding lingo, which makes the fact that Hayden is a pro more believable. I also found the fact that a snowboarding term is compared to Hayden's current state of affairs quite innovative. 

Hayden's character s witty and her actions are sure to make the reader laugh out loud. I have found that Echols has a way with words where humor is concerned. Her artful use of language and a well-developed sense of humor helps drive the book and give the readers a simple and sweet story to enjoy. 

The only thing that bars me from giving it a perfect 10 is the repitition. Hayden likes Nick. Nick likes Hayden. They make out. One accuses the other of ulterior motives. They stare each other down. One walks off in a huff. This same scene is changed around a little and used again and again, taking away from the book's otherwise creative structure. 

This book is most certainly a light and breezy read, perfect to get you out of your reading slump. I would recommend it as a read, whenever you feel like you need something funny and funky to cheer you up and help you jump into reading!

Beautiful Creatures

Details

Title: Beautiful Creatures

Author: Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Magic

Rating: 7/10

Continuation: It is the first book in the "Caster Chronicles" series.

Pages: 563

Review

Beautiful Creatures follows two protagonists, Lena Duchannes and Ethan Lawson Wate. The story narrated mostly by Ethan, until Lena takes over in the last chapter of the novel. Ethan lives a simple, even boring life in the small town of Gaitlin. He starts having mysterious and realistic dreams all linking back to one girl. 

Lena is the niece of the town's shut-in. She is shunned by her school, as the small-minded community refuses to get over their problem with her uncle, Macon Ravenwood. But Lena's problems go deeper than that. She is about to be Claimed on the night of the Sixteenth Moon of the Sixteenth Year and there is nothing she can do about it.

Ethan and Lena are bound by a deep and powerful love and it is only that love which will protect Lena until her fate is decided on her sixteenth birthday. 

This novel is quite twisted and shocking. The fantastical element is the drive of the story and there is a build-up of suspense from the very beginning. As the book progresses, shocking secrets and elements of the plot are revealed. As the novel comes to an end, the reader has a complete picture. In my opinion, this makes for a satisfying reading experience.

The romance between Ethan and Lena is not too aggressive but is still portrayed as powerful. The author develops their relationship and strengthens it through simple emotional gestures, rather that physical ones. I find that the author's technique to develop the emotion in their relationship is commendable.  This said, I also find that they never really fell in love. Ethan saw her in her dreams, thought she was hot and they start declaring their deep and devoted love for each other? This strikes me as quite unrealistic, but then, perhaps it's just my mind over-analyzing the novel. 

This book is built deeply on relationships, not only between Lena and Ethan, but between them and their families. The main plot of the story is the Casters and the Claiming. I have never seen this outlook on magic been explored before, and therefore, I find it remarkably innovative. The author painstakingly provides every detail of the magic, down to the eye color of different Casters. This may seem like a bore, but the author has a knack for making every description interesting and intriguing, keeping the reader riveted to most sections of the novel.

There were a few inconsistencies in the novel, which I feel should be mentioned. Firstly, Ethan Wate is meant to be a guy. No guy ever, especially a teenage boy, will be able to distinguish the smell of lemon and rosemary. He will not go into meticulous detail about the different types of dresses girls wear to dances and he most certainly will not over-analyze every detail of the girl he likes. This just makes the whole thing seem unrealistic. 

Next, Ethan has mud in his bed and all he does it think about it for five minutes? If I wake up from a mysterious dream and find mud in my bed, I would sure as hell be freaking out. 

Lastly, the authors tended to stretch certain elements of the novel out. For example, Lena is losing control of her power and weird stuff is going on everywhere, yet the reader sits through five pages of a high school dance that wasn't a smart idea in the first place. Lena is about to get taken by the Darkest Caster Ever, yet she would like to go to a high school dance or to a party on her Claiming day. If she doesn't care about her destiny, why should I? Time's running out and instead of sitting around, Ethan and Lena should be panicking and trying to stop the inevitable. 

All in all, the book was interesting, but unless you really enjoy fantasy novels, I would suggest you don't waste your time with all 563 pages of it. 

Bad Taste in Boys

Details

Title: Bad Taste in Boys

Author: Carrie Harris

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Humor, Adventure

Rating: 7/10

Continuation: It is the first book in the "Katie Grable" series.

Pages: 201

Review

Katie, a high-school students finds out that the football coach has been pumping his students with steroids. Worse, the steroids contain an unexpected virus, which is turning the players into mindless, flesh-eating zombies. Kate's on a mission to find an antidote before the zombies turn the whole population of the high school with their bites. Everyone she knows is in danger - including her brother, Jonah and her crush, Aaron. Kate helps solve the zombie problem with the help of Aaron and her best girlfriend, Rocky.

This novel had an exciting plot, full of mayhem and adventure. I find the fact that they add a scientific spin to the paranormal element of zombies quite interesting. Harris makes the transformation and outbreak seem quite rational and logical, while most zombie books give absolutely no explanation, as to the reason behind the creation or transformation of zombies.

The book is quite riveting and definitely a page-turner. I can easily say it is one of the best zombie books I've read. It avoids the general zombie stereotypes and Harris is very creative with her description and behavior of the zombies and their transformation.

The book also contains an element of humor, though it is not very major. There are small quips and jokes throughout the book, preventing it from becoming too heavy or depressing. There is also a prominent element of romance, which I suppose will appeal to most female readers.Personally, I find the romance between Aaron and Kate quite cute. Harris manages to make the romance a major part of the book, without letting it take-over the main plot or over-doing the romantic action.

This book also has a negative aspect. When the book ends, there are several loose ends and unanswered questions, which I, quite honestly, find exasperating and frustrating. While I expect the author will explain further in the sequel of the book, I find such writing quite annoying.

This book was an adventure and if you, as the reader, are willing to commit to the series, I will definitely recommend it. 

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

Details

Title: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

Author: Rachel Harris

Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

Rating: 10/10

Continuation: It is the first book in the "My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century".

Pages: 328

Review

Cat Crawford is a simple teen and the last thing she wants is a grand gala thrown by her bubbly step-mother and well-meaning father for her sixteenth birthday. She is taken to Florence, Italy as a peace offering and she sets out to explore the wonderful city. Her curiosity leads her into a gypsy tent and when she exits, she's in the Renaissance.

Carrying only a bagpack stuffed with items from the future, she meets her sweet ancestors, Cipriano and Alessandra. Soon, she falls in love with the gorgeous Lorenzo, an aspiring artist. But when the much-older, Niccolo, starts sniffing around for her hand, she realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to a creepy, unwanted suitor. She must find herself into modern times, before she gets stuck in the Renaissance Firenze forever.

This novel  was positively wonderful. The plot was fresh and funny, compared to other historical fiction novels. I found that the protagonist, Cat Crawford, was quite charming and very endearing to the reader. 

The plot, coupled with the remarkable structure and language in this novel, keeps the reader captivated till the very end. While the story has a fantastical theme, the details given make the adventure seem realistic and quite interesting. 

Cat's romance with Lorenzo will leave teenage girls with fluttering hearts. Their romance is full of fiery passion and Harris does a wonderful job describing it. Whenever the couple has a romantic moment, the author provided fantastic imagery and makes it simple for the reader to feel what Cat does. "Lorenzo places his hands on either side of my face, lowering his head to stare directly into my eyes. His voice is barely above a whisper as he says, "you are my dream now." This very extract from the novel displays the dreaminess factor of Lorenzo, better than anything I could say would.

The overall adventure element of the novel was developed quite well. The story contains tons of action and high adrenaline moments. Her journey, even after she comes back to the the modern age, continues to provide surprises to the reader. Harris has a way of placing the reader into the middle of the action with her use of language and art of description.

The author's style of writing is quite impressive, so I would definitely recommend this book. I will also recommend having a look at other books she has written. 

Well this is a downer

Sorry!!!

Hi guys! Exams are coming soon and the workload is magnificent. I don't have much time to read books or write the reviews everyday, so for the duration of April and first two weeks of May, I will be writing reviews on alternate days. Once the exams are done with, expect more to come, as I will have nothing but time on my hands. Keep following the blog regularly and make sure to comment on some of the posts and leave some suggestions for books you'd lke me to review or include in my reading list.

Another thing I would like you guys to have a look at is my short story. I'm in the process of proof-reading it and will upload it ASAP. Please look out for it and do read it. I would appreciate you feedback and support.

Have fun on spring break guys and don't forget to pick up a book when your cerebral cortex is twiddling its proverbial thumbs. 

You Don't Even Know

Details

Title: You Don't Even Know

Author: Sue Lawson

Publisher: Black Dog Books
Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Family, Contemporary

Rating: 9/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 328

Review

The novel is a sequence of events narrated by the protagonist, Alex Hudson, from his hospital room after an accident. Alex Hudson is a water-polo player with an over-bearing family. Suddenly, the only light in hs life is ripped away from him. The novel is not in chronological order and it is up to the reader to piece together the fatal events that landed him there. 

This book was heart-wrenching and extremely touching. The style of narration used is effective as it creates an air of mystery and suspense and helps the reader follow the sequence of events, as everything falls into place. The style of writing used by Lawson helps the reader feel and understand Alex's frustration. The reader is able to reason for him every time he lashes out, due to the build up of empathy. The novel is beautiful, remarkable and touching in a multitude of ways.

The protagonist is in physical, mental AND emotional pain throughout the book. The story is inspirational, because the only way he is able to put himself out of his misery is by confronting himself and the painful memories. The book is quite intriguing and although it is hard to follow in the beginning, the book is hard to put down once the plot starts falling together. The plot has an intricate structure, which is quite effective. While the present events are in chronological order, it is the flashbacks that are placed randomly. This is a deliberate effort and helps the reader think of the possibilities himself, without the story revealing too much at once.

You Don't Even Know is a powerful novel about sensitivity and relationships. The novel appeals to the emotional element of the reader and is almost sure to leave you in tears. I will recommend it the slightly mature readers (15+), due to the nature of the content. 

Girl to the Core

Details

Title: Girl to the Core

Author: Stacey Goldblatt

Publisher: Delacorte Books
Publication Year: 2009

Language: English

Genre: Chick Lit, Young Adult

Rating: 7/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 304

Review

Molly O'Keefe can't keep up with her boyfriend's pace and she blames herself for him cheating on her with his ex. Despite Trevor apologizing and her best friend Vannessa trying to find her rebounds, she is heartbroken. Then she finds comfort where she never thought she would: Girl Corps, a club her nine-year old neighbour, Claire, belongs to. Molly being fifteen hardly fits the usual Girl Corps member profile. She still finds that the group of little girls gives her confidence.

Molly's new enlightened self is now at odds with everyone else in her life. Trevor won't back down and Molly can't help but have feelings for him. Will Molly give in and turn back on her learning or will she stay strong and embrace the girl at her core?

This novel has an innovative standpoint on the teenage outlook and avoids an expected ending. The story is unheard of and spotted with Irish humor to make it interesting. I also found the novel to be a tad inspirational. 

The protagonist finds comfort outside of her comfort zone and learns to stand up for her self. After following her on her journey to enlightenment, this gives the reader a sense of satisfaction. The author explores the consequences of the protagonist's decisions, without too much drama or emotion. 

Twenties Girl

Details

Title: Twenties Girl

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: The Dial Press
Publication Year: 2009

Language: English

Genre: Romance, Chick Lit, Humor, Fantasy

Rating: 9/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 435

Review

Lara Lington's great Aunt Sadie - a young, feisty girl with strong ideas about love, fashion and dancing - appears to her in spirit, she has a request to make: Lara must find her aunt's drangonfly necklace, as she cannot rest without it. 

Lara and Sadie make an interesting duo and their mission to find the missing necklace brings Lara love and intrigue. At first they seem to have nothing in common, but their adventure brings them to learn surprising truths about each other.

Twenties Girl is an outstanding novel. The whole story was narrated by Lara and when Sadie comes into the picture, the novel truly hits the funny bone. Lara is left wondering whether she has gone completely mental, while dealing with Sadie, who is upbeat and prone to teenage strops. The book starts off like a dull ghost story, but soon transforms into a heartfelt and humorous story about the friendship of Lara and Sadie.

The paranormal element at first seems obnoxious and hard to believe, but I soon find myself wanting Sadie as a companion. Her role in Lara and Ed's relationship make her seem like an interesting voice to have. Sadie's character is ditzy, but not so much to the point of annoying, and she makes the novel implausible and interesting at the same time, leaving the reader questioning his own sanity!

While Lara struggles with her relationship and career to portray the helpless heroine, Sadie saves the book from transforming into a tragedy and instead spins it into a tale of inspiration. The romance between Lara and Ed was very cute and engaging. I found Ed Harrison quite likable as a male character. 

The elements of humor, fantasy and romance, combined with the elements of 1920s, such as the Charleston and flapper dresses, makes this book a far-fetched, but enjoyable light summer read. I will recommend it, mainly for female readers.

The Time of My Life

Details

Title: The Time of My Life

Author: Cecilia Ahern

Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Chick Lit, Magical Realism

Rating: 10/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 392

Review

Lucy Silchester comes home one day to find a cream and gold envelope lying on her carpet. She finds out that she has appointment with life. It seems that she has been ignoring it and it needs to meet her face to face.

Lucy is too busy hating her job, avoiding her family and ditching her friends to make it. But Lucy's choices and stories aren't exactly what they seem like. As soon as she meets the shabby man who calls himself her Life, all her lies and half truths are going to be revealed, unless Lucy starts telling herself the truth. 

This novel is one of my favorite books. The pages are stuffed to the brim with humor and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The narrative was witty and interesting, and after finishing the book, it felt like I had lost a best friend. The narrative's language was such that it made it quite easy for the reader to relate to the protagonist. The author made it easy to understand what the protagonist was going through, and I found this element of the novel commendable.

The novel is quirky without being ridiculous and romantic without being to mushy. The novel is realistic and downright hilarious, especially when her life turns out to be a greasy, scruffy excuse of a man. The book was both heart-warming and uplifting. There was no trace of over-sentimentality to compensate for the great amount of humor. 

The novel is certainly a memorable one, with the perfect mix of drama, humor, romance and quirk. I will recommend this mainly to female readers, to enjoy as a light read. Cecilia Ahern is a wonderful author and her other books are also quite amazing. I would suggest that you pick some up and try her out. If you like one book, you'll like 'em all!

OMG! Is This Actually My Life?

Details

Title: OMG! Is This Actually My Life?

Author: Rae Earl

Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Contemporary

Rating: 9/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 336

Review

The novel is the diary of Hattie Moore describing her tumultuous year with hilarious accounts of the ups and downs of teenage life. Hattie has no idea about the identity of her father, the most popular girl at school - nicknamed Ms. Gorgeous Knickers - hates her and guys don't pay attention to her due to her lack of, ahem, endowments. She has an extremely annoying brother who has it out for her and somewhat of a silly Gran, who texts rude jokes to everyone. Including her dentist.

This book has me in tears. Humor is a major element in it and I find that the author has a knack for effective description. Even though the language is not exactly advanced, this novel serves the purpose of a light read. The part that especially cracks me up is the fabulous British humor. I find the slang and words they use emphasize a point more effortlessly and make the whole plot even funnier.

Young adults - mainly females, due to the novel's female perspective - can relate to this book very easily. Hattie does what every teenager can easily relate to. She pines for something - or in this case, somebody - she can't have instead of noticing what is right in front of her eyes. Understanding the novel and the protagonist's motivations for actions for an easy task, due to the fact that us teenage girls think the exact same way. 

Characterization was done extremely well in this novel. This is commendable, considering the fact that the format is that of a diary. The boy next door, Goose, is a very lovable character and I just wanted to reach in there and give him a hug. Hattie's "mental" Gran was responsible for my moments of public laughter. I have to give to to Earl - she knows how to manipulate her characterization and make it interesting.

The only part of the book that kept me from thoroughly enjoying it is the excessive use of CAPITAL LETTERS. They of course emphasized Harriet's dramatic flair, but they also gave an overall jarring effect and became quite disruptive and annoying halfway through the novel.

The protagonist is endearing and naive and she makes the book quite amusing and interesting. I will certainly recommend it for a funny read. It is sure to have you in stitches. 

NOTE: Even though this is unrelated to the story, I personally find the cover extremely cute. It's bright, colorful and groovy. This cover is the most accurate representation of a novel's content I have ever seen.

Someone Else's Life

Details

Title: Someone Else's Life

Author: Katie Dale

Publisher: Mass Market Paperback
Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Family

Rating: 10/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 485

Review

Someone Else's Life is the story of Rosie Kenning. After her mother passes away due to the Huntington's disease, Rosie is receives a crippling blow - there is a 50% percent chance of her inheriting the disease. When Rosie starts pushing to get herself tested, her mother's best friend - Aunt Sarah - reveals that she wasn't her mother's biological daughter.

She is determined to find her biological mother, so she hitches along with her boyfriend on his gap year, only to discover several of her family's buried secrets and lies. She is left with an agonizing decision to make which is.... (sorry, but you hafta read the book to figure that one out!)

It is not easy for me to give a book a 100% rating, but in this case, it was hard not to. This book was wonderful. It was an extremely touching story and I admit to water streaming from my eyes. The plot is deeply emotional and has a strong influence of family and relationships in it.

The story is well-detailed and concise. The plot tends to become complex at times, but it is the author's well-advised strategy, as everything clicks into place all at once and induces the 'Aah!' immediately. The book may be emotionally charged, but it still manages to produce snippets of humor to lighten up the plot and present contrasts to the emotional drama.

The plot is also strongly influenced by drama. The story never fails to surprise and the the drama makes the plot juicier and more interesting. Another weaker, but ever-present, influence is of romance. The sub-plot of romance affecting Rosie does not overwhelm the reader. Rather, it supports the plot and adds to the dramatic element.

The language of the novel helps the plot advance, while the portrayal of the two female protagonists helps young adults, especially females, relate to them and sympathize with them. The plot has a way of producing twists and turns at well-placed intervals, making the book very intriguing.

I was enthralled by this book and it was almost impossible for me to put it down. I will recommend it to teenagers, especially females, due to the sensitive sub-text. The amount of drama, romance and emotion in this book is right out of a soap opera. This basically mean that females will tend to to find it particularly emotional and exciting, while males will tend to perceive it as full of unnecessary elements and with an over-dramatic plot.

Almost Everything

Details

Title: Almost Everything

Author: Tate Hallaway 

Publisher: National American Library Trade

Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic

Rating: 8/10

Continuation: This novel is the third book in the "Vampire Princess of St. Paul" series.

Pages: 320

Review

Half-vampire, half witch Ana Parker has boy trouble. Her musician ex, Nikolai is trying to heat things up again and high school hockey star wants her to get with him. Her sort-of boyfriend Elias is her vampire knight - living in her basement.

Ever since Ana and Elias are banished from the court of the Northern vampires, Ana has been trying to live a normal life. When a Prince from the Southern region informs her of a brewing war, she accidentally offers Elias for marriage to the Prince's captain.

Vampires in the Nothern region haven't hunted for decades and they're getting hungry. They can only survive on witches' blood and it is up to Ana to get out of this situation, without letting any of her loved ones get harmed.

This novel was positively wonderful. It had a great combination of romance, action and fantasy. The novel has a complex plot, which appears to be confusing, but can barely be noticed in the story itself. The plot flows smoothly. The change in scenes are all quite clear and the ending ties up ALMOST EVERYTHING! I find the sub-plot of Ana's romance throughout the novel quite exciting. The reader will be intrigued and curious as to which of her three suitors Ana picks. This makes the story interesting.

Action in the book is written quite well. The direness of the situation is always described without too much gore or violence. The author's take on vampires is also an innovative one. The story moves fast without any dull moments and the tone of the book is lightened by the small sections of humor the author has placed strategically.

Magic and fantasy are major elements in this novel. I find that the descriptions given o the fantasy world are not overdone. Enough information is given to understand the events but some information is also withheld. This information is left to be completed by the reader's imagination and adds to the story's charm and mystery.Tat sometimes painted in a negative light to make Ana seem more sensitive and deep in contrast. I find this quite unfair to Bea's character, because Ana may be the the heroine of the book, but she is not as mature or sophisticated as she sometimes made to seem.

The author has a knack for story telling. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough, just to sate my curiosity. This novel kept me mesmerized till the end and I will recommend it.