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. 

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. 

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. 

Cloaked

Details

Title: Cloaked

Author: Alex Flinn

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating: 6.5/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 341

Review

Cloaked is the story of seventeen-year old Johnny, who aspires to be a shoe designer. He works hard to help out with the family business, since he and his mother are having a hard time making ends meet. Johnny's father has been missing for years. As fate would have it, a princess comes into town with enough money to solve all his financial problems. the only catch is that she believes her brother has been turned into a frog and Johnny is the right person to rescue him. What ensues as Johnny tries to manage this, is a whirlwind of danger and adventure. 

This story is a retelling of the fairy tale 'The Frog and the Princess'. I find that this twist on a classic fairy tale is quite intriguing and enjoyable. The novel contains a perfect mix of action, magic and romance. I, personally, appreciated the magical elements and found they boosted the plot significantly. 

The relationship between Johnny and his best friend Megan plays out as the sub-plot of the book. What I personally found quite disappointing was the fact that the ending was cliché. Alix Flinn has a knack for surprising the reader with a shocking ending, but this time, what came was quite expected. 

I also felt that Flinn had tried to push too much into one book. There were too many storylines to follow and the whole book was spent jumping from crisis to crisis. I found that the mash up of fractured fairy tales was too large a load for the reader to handle, making some parts of the book quite frustrating. 

While this book has a interesting outlook, I would recommend it only for readers with an interest in fantasy novels.  

Just Listen

Details

Title: Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Penguin Group Incorporated

Publication Year: 2006

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults

Rating: 9/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 383

Review

Just Listen is the story of Annabel Greene, who appears to have it all. But her life is falling apart. A spat with her best friends leaves her lonely at the beginning of the year, her peace at home is destroyed due to her sister's eating disorder and she is hesitant to admit her lack of enthusiasm for her modeling career. Amidst all this, she meets Owen Armstrong. With the help of the reformed bad-boy with an obsession with music and a commitment to telling the truth, Annabel may finally start telling herself the truth. This book is certainly a wonderful read. The storyline covers several relevant issues without making the book seem 'stuffed'. There are references to eating disorders, modeling, music - a major element in this book, anger management, high school dynamics, family relationships, truthfulness and several others.  The characters were few, but very well developed, making it easier for the reader to empathize and connect with them. Annabel's dirty secrets under a perfect exterior, make the reader realize that nothing in life is perfect. That flaws exist in every person. This quality of the protagonist brings in an element of realism. Owen's character is labelled as a loser, yet his character's integrity and actions makes the reader fall in love with him. This displays another element of realism. Labels are unnecessary, but a routine part of high school. Owen's character can easily be related to by an average teenager.  The most satisfying part of the book was the fact that all ends were tied up. I personally find it frustrating when elements of the book remain incomplete, as this makes me uneasy and forces me to ponder over it. This, of course, is a personal opinion and each reader has a different preference.  The element of romance introduced spiced up the plot and made the characters come to life. The only bone I have to pick with the story is the abundance of musical references. While most are well placed and make the plot interesting, there are a few which leave the reader confused. These references are quite advanced and if the reader does not share Owen's passion for music, he might find the plot quite mundane. Despite this jarring note, I found the novel quite riveting and will certainly recommend it to young adults, especially females given the romantic element. 

Violins of Autumn

Details

Title: Violins of Autumn

Author: Amy McAuley

Publisher: Walker 

Publication Year: 2012

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Adventure

Rating: 8/10

Continuation: No continuation yet.

Pages: 336

Review

This is a gripping tale, which follows a 17 year old Betty Sweeney, code name Adele Blanchard, as she lies about her age to become a part of England's Special Operations Executive (SOE) in 1944. She travels to France as a secret agent to deliver a coded message to the French patriots about the Allied Invasion. The protagonist faces several harrowing challenges, with her companion - Denise Langford. 

This book is suitable for young adults, but I also recommend it for adults. It does have graphic detail of violence in it, making it unsuitable for the faint-hearted. The story is credible and historically factual, making it more realistic and easier to believe. It has plenty of adventure with a dash of romance. The plot never features a dull moment and keeps the reader on his toes. The sub-plot of romance helped make the story more sensitive and interesting.  The characters are developed quite well, helping the reader visualize them. 

This feature helps readers empathize and understand the character's point of view more easily. The plot is quite serious and the war is never portrayed as a trivial issue. The protagonist's spunk and determination impressed me and made me admire her. Though it is doubtful that a young girl with only a couple of months of training is able to withstand and survive the horrendous torture inflicted by the Gestapo, the story is a salute to the heroism displayed by several youngsters during this unfortunate event. I could barely keep the book down and will certainly recommend it. 

Unfriended

Details

Title: Unfriended

Author: Katie Finn

Publisher: Scholastic Incorporated

Publication Year: 2011

Language: English

Genre: Young Adults, Chick Lit

Rating: 3/10

Continuation: It is part of the Top 8 series, which consists of 3 novels.

Pages: 352

Review

The story follows Madison MacDonald, who's perfect life falls apart, after is bullied into breaking off ties and disabling her social networking accounts. The plot follows the challenges she faces to overcome the bully and her friends. 

I found this particular novel  extremely boring. Honestly, I faced a challenge of my own - actually finishing the book. The plot was the basic 'girl faces challenges in high school', but the whole novel was centered on the previous book in the series. This made it extremely complicated to follow for a reader unfamiliar with the series - aka me. No explanations were given for references from the previous books, making it quite frustrating to understand. 

The protagonist herself was quite dull and the life she leads is way too perfect for an average teenager to actually relate to. The main issue in the book is cyberbullying and it is not portrayed well. The story makes the problem seem trivial and the solution offered is not very realistic, making the reader quite uncomfortable. Its only saving grace is the upbeat plot, that may cheer the reader up. 

The book is not an enjoyable experience to go through and I will definitely not recommend it.