The Program

Details

Title: The Program

Author: Suzanne Young

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance
Rating: 8.5/10
Continuation: The Program #1 of 6
Pages: 410

Summary

In the future, teen suicide has become an epidemic with teenage mortality rates higher than ever. Even stranger? Adults remain unaffected by this 'disease'. There's only one proven cure, with 100% effectiveness - the Program. Showing any trace of real emotion can get teens flagged as high-risk and involuntarily placed into the program, at their parents' behest. They emerge six weeks later - happy, healthy and completely void of any "infected" memories of their previous life. Sloan and her boyfriend James have always managed to keep each other from falling below deck, but soon the pressure is too much and the Program is coming for them.

Review

Okay dolls - what a book! No, seriously, what a book! Just between us, I'm going to have very few negative things to say about this book, so be warned. I mean, what's not to love!? From the eloquent writing style to the unique futuristic premise to the well-developed, relatable characters, this book had everything going for it and then some.

⚠[BE WARNED: SPOILERS AHEAD]⚠

Let's begin with the premise of the novel. As I began reading this book, I had a nagging sense of familiarity. Further delving into it made me realise exactly why. The society set up in this novel had a lot of things wrong with it, but as a reader, it always feels like maybe it's necessary because the writer is so careful to rationalise every decision the adults make to help the teens. In plain terms, the Program basically lobotomises its patients, so that they forget everything about their recent past and thus, their suicidal tendencies. When laid out this way, it sounds obviously problematic, but this isn't the case in the context of the book. Every argument the therapists, handlers, teachers and parents make simply seems like a misguided attempt at protection, even justifying surveillance of all digital communication. Beginning to sound familiar? Perhaps just like an episode of the Netflix original, Black Mirror? Thought so. Not only is the idea of the Program being a reality entirely conceivable, it also makes sense as to why such a society would develop. This isn't often the case with YA dystopian novels as, often, a suspension of disbelief is necessary for a truly immersive experience, but in my opinion, this wasn't the case here.



Now, let's move on to the characters. Sloane, her brother Brady and his best friend James were a strong trio. That is, until the sickness starts to set into Brady and he jumps 20-feet off a cliff right in front of the two. The two anchor each other from spiralling into depression and catching the contagious "suicide bug". But when one of their best friends takes his own life, James can't be the rock anymore. He finally lets go and Sloane soon follows suit, after seeing James as an empty shell of the person he used to be. So I've raved about how well-developed these characters are, but let me explain why. I genuinely expected this story to go a different way. Sloane and James would rebel against the program and fight to save their memories against all odds. Or at least, that's how a typical YA read with this premise would go. But the writer instead decided to take a more realistic approach.



Both our protagonists are broken down, torn apart and completely wiped of their memories. This characterisation of loss and grief driving them to insanity only serves to humanise them. It's not difficult for the reader to imagine himself in the same state after losing so many close loved ones. Watching our female protagonist slowly lose herself and her memories is surprisingly disturbing, as the entire time, the reader is painfully aware of what it is she's exactly losing. Instead of creating a hero complex, the writer has painted a story of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Our protagonists, despite what should be possible, manage to find their way back to each other and escape the oppressive system, thus building strength of character and gaining the reader's respect.



While I genuinely enjoyed the climax of the book and can't wait to get to the sequel, I'll admit it was a little difficult for me to get into the story in the beginning. While I see it was necessary now, the writer spent a lot of time on world building and exploring our characters' backgrounds, which was quite dull at times. I found myself urging the pace to pick up and get to the crux of the story. However, I would strongly recommend powering through, because the the story becomes not only exciting, but also heart wrenching, in the best way possible.

Side note: totally not a big deal to the plot development, but Realm really bothered me. He's a guy Sloane befriends in the Program, who turns out to be working for the other side - helping returners assimilate and form healthy bonds. Except he actually falls in love with Sloane and tries to help her in every way he can. Like most of the characters in this book, his actions definitely originate from a place of love, but his tendency to take advantage of Sloane at her most vulnerable and his strong belief in the Program, despite being deathly afraid of losing his memories, reeks of hypocrisy. The chemistry, romance or friendship - whatever you want to call it - between the two seems forced and unnatural. I mean, she's admitted to not loving him and chosen James over him multiple times, yet he still keeps coming back for more. 2/10 - would not recommend 😅



Overall, an exciting read with plenty of potential for the books to come. This one will require your focus to really understand and enjoy, so make sure you're in the right headspace, before committing to the series of 6! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this book. Did you enjoy the narrative structure and premise? Or were you turned off by the blatant attempt at capitalising on a controversial issue (hey! no shade here - jus' sayin)? Let me know down in the comments below. As always, happy to encourage intelligent discourse. Peace! 🙌

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.

My Life Next Door

Details

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick-Lit
Rating: 4.5/10
Continuation: No continuation yet.
Pages: 394

Summary

Samantha has always been forbidden from fraternising with the next door neighbours, the Garretts. Their family is everything Sam's mother loathes - loud, messy and plentiful (8 children!). Sam's always liked to watch them from her rooftop, when one evening, she's joined by one of the teenagers next door, Jase. Suddenly, she's swept up in a whirlwind romance, until an unfortunate event puts her in an impossible position between her family and the boy she loves.

Review

Let me start by saying... meh. I say that because that's the first word that escaped my mouth when I finished this book. I won't say it's the worst book I've ever read - not by any means - but I was fairly disappointed with how the promising storyline played out.

⚠[BE WARNED: SPOILERS AHEAD]⚠

Now, here's what I actually liked about this book. I'll be honest, the cover compelled me to pick it up in the first place. It was cute and seemed like it wouldn't take more than a couple hours to fly through. I enjoyed the overall simplicity and the premise of the book was interesting, I'll give it that. The idea of large families is rarely, if ever, explored in YA fiction and I enjoyed reading about Sam's interactions with members of the Garrett family. From the adorable baby Patsy, to the morbid but sweet toddler George to the protective, wild older sister Alice, these characters were the gift that kept on giving. 😍 Coming from a quiet family herself, Sam experienced the Garrett household with a sense of wonder - enthusiastic about every little detail of her encounters with them. The development of juxtaposition between the two neighbouring households was nuanced and well explored. Like they say, the devil is in the details! 

Here's why I was so disappointed. First off, what even were these characters? Forget character development, I struggled to find a single multi-dimensional character in this book. Let's talk about Jase for a minute. The epitome of the teenage dreamboat - he's hot, he's romantic, he's the perfect boy next door. He's also completely unrealistic. 😒 Not once in this novel does his perfect, good guy image waver. Even after he finds out that Sam's mother, Grace, was behind his father's accident (and Sam was in the car!), his reaction is to immediately forgive her and off they go. Uh... are you kidding me? Babes, no one is that calm after finding out something like that!

Then we have Nan - Sam's best friend and partner in crime or so she thought. For absolutely no reason in particular, halfway through the book, Nan up and decides that she can't stand being Sam's best friend because she's just "too perfect" and "everything comes easy to her". Um... why? Sam and Nan have been best friends since they were 5 and I genuinely believed there would be a moment of resolution - some revelation that would perfectly explain Nan's freak out and downright hostile behaviour, but I was sorely mistaken. Nothing about Nan really makes sense. She's always complaining about her life, yet I could not tell you a single concrete fact about her. Her boyfriend sucks, but do we know why? Not quite. She's been cheating on her exams for years, despite being a brilliant academic, but do we get an explanation? Nope! And what about the reason she keeps her brother's drunken misadventures a secret from her parents? Ding ding ding! That's right - unanswered yet again.


Sam, babes, trust me - you're better off without her!

And finally, our last nomination for Most One-Dimensional Character is Clay Tucker. With a name like that, it's no wonder the guy's a self-absorbed douchebag. Clay Tucker (still can't get over it!) is Grace's boyfriend and political advisor. Imagine every seedy, underhanded political mastermind and you'd be imagining Clay. He's neatly cast into the role of the antagonist and boy, does he stick to the script. This man did not have a single redeeming quality, so to speak. From digging up dirt on Grace's upstanding opponent to blackmailing his girlfriend's daughter into hiding a drunken hit-and-run, this man did it all. But what really pissed me off, you guessed it, is that we never get to know why! Where did this guy come from, why is he suddenly so involved in Grace's campaign and why the hell does he always conveniently show up? Sorry to say, those are all questions you're going to need to leave to the imagination.

If this was just about the characters, I wouldn't mind as much. But the story just wraps itself up a little too neatly. Grace hits Jase's father while driving after few too many glasses of wine, then tries to cover it up and pretend it never happened. When the truth finally comes out, she gets off scot-free with no consequences for her or Clay. In what universe would paying for medical bills be an adequate response to hitting a father of 8 (soon to be 9!) with your car and leaving him unconscious in the rain? Clay leaves the picture, Grace gets to cling to her political career and Samantha gets her happily ever after. Geez... even Disney had more realistic fairytale endings!

All in all, it wasn't a terrible read per se but it did leave me awfully underwhelmed. I wouldn't recommend this, even for a light read. There were some redeeming qualities, but overall the extreme lack of character development or motivation and the unrealistically fortunate series of events killed it for me.

Well folks, this was my first review in two years, so it's definitely been a while. As you can probably see, I'm trying out a new writing style and the blog has a new look! Hit me up and let me know what you think in the comments below. Did you read this book and share my opinion? Or did you absolutely love it and want to skewer me for my blasphemous words? Either way, I'm happy to hear your thoughts. 💖

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.

45 Pounds (more or less)

Details

Title: 45 Pounds (more or less)

Author: K.A. Barson

Publisher: The Penguin Group
Publication Year: 2013

Language: English

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Humor

Rating: 10/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 264

Review

Ann Galardi is on a mission. She is 16 and a size 17. Her mother is a perfect size 6. Her aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid. Ann makes up her mind to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in two and a half months.

Here's a novel set in the world of infomercial diet pans, endless wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann's ever seen and some surprises about her perfect (yet not-so perfect) mother. No matter how you add it up - the last part of the equation is all about feeling comfortable in your own skin.

All I could say when I finished with this novel was "Wow!" Barson has written an enjoyable novel with a great cast and a sense of self-confidence and joy settles upon the reader when he/she snaps the book shut. 

I feel that empathizing with this novel will come easily to teenagers. I feel that the Ann's character was created perfectly. She was insecure with several flaws, but had plenty of room to grow. The way Barson handles Galardi in this book is truly amazing. Ann doesn't give up on weight loss and sit on her haunches pretending it doesn't bother her. Neither does she end up continually starving herself to reach her target. This very moral is the inspring aspect of this novel. The protagonist ends up feeling comfortable in her own skin and finds support where she thought she had none. 

What I loved about the book was the new friend Ann made. Barson introduced an incredible supporting cast and my favorite was Raynee. She was supportive, interesting and unique. The plot line didn't follow a generic teen novel's. Instead, it took something old and put a fresh twist on it. I found this aspect quite interesting. 

Weight issues are usually very poorly handles in novels. Either the protagonists and perfect and skinny or they accept their flaw and remain insecure about it. This novel approaches the topic with a fresh perspective and a non-shaming tone. It introduces a character - Ann's mom - who is seemingly perfect but struggles with issues of our own. Every teen has a person in his/her life - or several - who are so perfect, they cannot be measured up to. This novel helps teens shatter their perception of perfection and come closer to achieving a healthy balance of happiness. 

A minor sub-plot in the book is Ann's romance with a cute guy who shows interest in her. I find this aspect of the story handles very well. The boy's interest in Ann contributes to her success in finding herself, but definitely doesnt overshadow the importance of other aspects. Barson doesn't let the romantic plot line take over the essence of the story - which I find commendable.

This novel is heartwarming and full of courage and strength. I will recommend it to all young adults. Novels like these need to be read at some point as a teenager to make us feel better. It's like a self-help book without any of cheesy drama and uncomfortable questions. Instead, it's a simple, humorous and very relatable story of a girl just like us. I will definitely recommend it. 

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. 

Waiting on Wednesday #2

This segment is for books that haven't been released yet that I'm excited for... maybe you'll love the sound of them too!

Details

Title: Maybe Someday
Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria Books
Release: 2014

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Contemporary, Romance, Music
Goodreads Rating: 4.51/5

Continuation: No continuation.

Pages: 367

Summary

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next. 

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one… 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together. 

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

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.