Since You Asked by Maurene Goo Review

(Photo credit: hellosgiggles.com)

 

 

Since you asked… I did not like Since You Asked by Maurene Goo.

            Since You Asked chronicles fifteen-year-old Holly Kim’s sophomore year. After writing a scandalous article for the school newspaper, Holly is given her own newspaper column where she gives her brutally honest opinion about everything regarding high school. As Holly navigates homecoming drama and crushes, she realizes everyone may not be what they seem and high school may not really be as terrible as she originally believes.

            First of all, I must discuss the cover photo. It looks like a freshman girl’s heavily edited Instagram photo, or the Picnik editing on Facebook photos that was popular when I was a freshman in high school. The cover did not give me high expectations for this book. However, it is much worse than I originally expected.

            I absolutely hate the main character Holly. The only thing that she does the entire book is complain. My high school years have gone, and I know that I complained a time or two about assignments and what not. But this girl… ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is worth complaining about. While this may be the author trying to make her relatable, she just comes off bratty at times. One time in particular, Holly complains because her mother is allowing her to pick out her own Christmas presents. She throws an entire fit and it just makes her seem so ungrateful.

            Another major problem I have with the novel is Holly’s column. This is what drives the whole story, but to me, it is very unbelievable that what she would write would appear in a school newspaper. I was an editor for a high school newspaper and if a student wrote something like Holly would, they would never get their own column. Besides, Holly actually swears and tears apart student groups in some of her pieces. This would never be tolerated in a school newspaper. While I understand this is what moves the story along, as someone that was in a school newspaper, it comes across as unbelievable.

            For me, this story just didn’t do it. It only manages to earn 2 stars for this reviewer.

 

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I borrowed Since You Asked from the library.



Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins Review

(Photo: stephanieperkins.com)

 

 

            If you have not heard of Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, you probably are not a fan of YA fiction. Anna and The French Kiss is a favorite among YA fanatics and I am no exception. Naturally, I had to pick up Lola and the Boy Next Door. After reading, I can happily say that Stephanie Perkins did not suffer from a sophomore slump, and I even like Lola and the Boy Next Door more than Anna and the French Kiss.

            Lola and the Boy Next Door follows Lola Nolan, a girl who lives in San Francisco and has a passion for outrageous costumes. Lola’s parents do not like Lola's older boyfriend, but Lola is perfectly content… that is, until the Bell family moves back in next door. Years before, Lola had a ‘thing’ with Cricket Bell. Now years later, it seems as if their spark has not diminished.

            I absolutely adore Lola and the Boy Next Door, even more so than Anna and the French Kiss. While I feel that Anna and the French Kiss is slightly too overdramatic by the ending (kind of like Degrassi), Lola and the Boy Next Door is consistently amazing. Although some may think that the plot is too similar to Anna and the French Kiss (character is already in a relationship, but likes the other character, etc.), the unique characters definitely make Lola and the Boy Next Door its own special novel.

            I LOVE Lola. She is honestly one of my favorite YA characters. She is just so unique. Her struggles didn’t just consist of liking a boy. She also has problems finding out who she truly is underneath all the costumes. 

            Cricket is such a cute love interest. Whereas I find St. Clair flirtier, Cricket is slightly awkward. He is literally so cute. Every time Lola walks into a room, he gets so excited. Seriously, it is adorable. I also like how he is an inventor. It makes him stand apart from other male YA love interests.

            Lola and Cricket have such a cute relationship. I find that some YA relationships come off as forced, but Lola and Cricket naturally fit together. Their relationship progressed a little too slowly for the fan girl in me, but I appreciate that they do not get together in a day. 

            One aspect of Lola and the Boy Next Door that is 'eh’ is Anna and St. Clair. While I like having them part of the story, I feel ar times they are just in the story too much. Throughout the entire book they act all cute-sy, and sometimes it is just cute over kill.

            So, why do I prefer Lola and the Boy Next Door to Anna and the French Kiss? It feels more real. Don’t get me wrong, Anna and the French Kiss is a realistic love story. But, it takes place in Paris, has a love interest with a British accent, and the final kiss overlooks the entire city. Lola and the Boy Next Door takes place in San Francisco with just an average boy next door, which I personally find more relatable.

            All in all, Lola and the Boy Next Door is not one to be missed. I can’t wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After! 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased Lola and the Boy Next Door with my own money. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten Review

(Photo credit: amazon.com)

           It is rare that a book completely takes me by surprise. Honestly, I was not expecting much from Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten. Judging by the cover, I thought it would just be another fluffy YA novel that is simply good for passing the time. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Although Wherever Nina Lies isn’t the most well-written novel, I found that I enjoyed it far more than I originally expected.

            Wherever Nina Lies follows sixteen-year-old Ellie, who’s older sister Nina mysteriously disappeared two years earlier. Although Ellie’s friend Amanda says that Ellie should “get over it,” Ellie decides to reinvestigate her sister’s disappearance after finding one of her paintings stashed away in a box. This painting leads Ellie on a wild goose chase across the country with her new crush, Sean. Each stop along the way unravels the mystery surrounding Nina’s disappearance, which could be more deadly than Ellie ever imagined.

            Wherever Nina Lies is a surprising novel. Even though it is not the most well-written book, the plot makes the book significantly better. It is fast-paced with tons of twist and turns that kept me interested on each page. Recently, I have struggled to find a book that makes me want to keep reading and reading until I reach the end. I did not encounter this problem with Wherever Nina Lies. The author does a wonderful job of making the book so mysterious that I kept turning the pages to find out the ending (and find more clues to guess the ending myself).

            I actually really enjoyed Ellie’s character. She would stop at nothing to find her older sister, even when everyone told her to stop. I found this extremely admirable, and being a younger sister myself, I connected with the whole sister relationship. Yes, I think that Ellie is stupid for so easily trusting a guy that she just met, but her sheer determination to find her sister no matter what the cost makes her a lovable protagonist.

            The only downfall to the story is that parts of the plot are highly unbelievable. Ellie’s mom does not even call her to see if she is alright. I understand that Ellie mentions that she typically sleeps at her friend’s house every night. However, it seems as if Ellie’s mom would at least be concerned, even if she did receive a call from Ellie saying that she is staying at her friend’s house. After all, Ellie is under eighteen and she does not return to her house for clothes or anything for an entire week. In addition, most of Ellie’s hunches come from guessing and all her hunches are correct. While this does move the story along, it is very unbelievable.

            Despite its flaws, Wherever Nina Lies is a fun mystery that it bound to keep you entertained. I highly recommend it!

 

Disclaimer: I borrowed this book from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

           

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman Review

(Photo: authorsnow.com)

 

How do I breathe without you? If you ever go, How do I ever, ever survive?

            Okay, so no this book is not about Leann Rimes. But, those lines describe this book perfectly. Actually, that’s what I first thought after reading the description. So, was Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman a hit like that Leann Rimes song? Um, not quite.

            Breathing follows Savannah, a fifteen-year-old girl who suffers from severe asthma that often leaves her hospitalized. At the beginning of the summer, Savannah meets Jackson, an older boy that immediately steals her heart. The two instantly become absorbed in a summer romance. However, when Jackson must leave to help his recently divorced mother, Savannah fears that she will not be able to figuratively or physically breathe without him.

            I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from Breathing since I hadn’t read very many reviews on the book. However, I did find the whole tagline to be slightly cheesy, so I feared that the book would suffer the same fate. After reading, my fears were confirmed.

            There’s not denying that the book centers around the romance. I thoroughly enjoyed how Jackson treats Savannah with respect. How well that he treats her is refreshing in a genre overcrowded with drama-filled love triangles and overly flirty/arrogant love interests. Yet, at times, their relationship is almost a little too perfect. Within only a time or two of meeting each other, they become so undyingly in love that it is unbelievable (even if it is a quickly heated summer romance).

            At first, I really liked Savannah. Her country twang and struggles with asthma make her a unique protagonist. However, like many YA protagonist, she pines for her boyfriend throughout the entire book. Let me make this clear. I don’t find girls weak for thinking about a guy or wanting to be with their boyfriend. But when a character literally belittles their friend’s relationship because she doesn’t think it is as real as her’s, mopes for half the book when she can’t see her boyfriend, almost gives up her entire future for said boyfriend, and constantly nags him about everything, I just want to scream because it’s so annoying! I know this is typically, overdramatic teenage girl behavior, but when the main character only whines about her boyfriend and nothing else, it gets old fast.

            My favorite character has to be Savannah’s mom. She adds depth to the story and her hesitancy to trust another man is very believable. She works hard for her family, and even though she can be rough around the edges, it’s clear that she truly cares for Savannah. I absolutely loved her character. While Dog is the typical annoying younger brother, I liked his storyline. Although I could predict it, it adds a nice touch to the story.

            As I mentioned before, I found the breathing aspect to be quite cheesy. Asthma is a unique topic and it is tied up nicely at the end, but the “How can I breathe without you?!” part was just too cheesy. I am not kidding you… Savannah actually says those words to Jackson. I think that I literally cringed.

            Breathing is a good choice if you are searching for a unique summer romance. Despite the somewhat cheesy premise, the book is decent and worth checking out.



Disclaimer: I borrowed Breathing from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Forever Summer: Laguna Cove and Cruel Summer by Alyson Noël

(Photo: goodreads.com)

 

            If you’re searching for the perfect summer beach read, look no further than Forever Summer by Alyson Noël. Forever Summer consists of two books—Laguna Cove and Cruel Summer. Below, I will review each book separately and then discuss which story I preferred.

Laguna Cove

            Laguna Cove follows four girls—new comer Alyson and pre-existing residents Ellie, Lola, and Jade. While Anne struggles to fit into the Californian lifestyle after moving from Connecticut, Ellie prepares to score a surfing sponsorship and please her strict father. Meanwhile, Lola tries to heal after a devastating breakup and Jade tries to help a delinquent friend. True to the California setting, Laguna Cover is filled with drama, romance, and of course, surfing.

            Laguna Cove is obviously not some literary masterpiece. Clearly, it is fluff. However, the story is fast-paced and dramatic, so it’s perfect for a day at the beach. Don’t check out this book if you are searching for a book with complex characters or a deep, profound meaning. But, if you’re looking for a fun way to pass the time, you will enjoy this book for its purpose.

            That being said, while I was expecting mindless fluff, I was not expecting to completely hate most of the characters. I would not want to be friends with any of these girls, except Jade because she was the only one that didn’t act like a brat or a snob. Lola isn’t as bad as the others, but she is constantly saying how she’s so gorgeous that guys just fall at her feet. Some people can say that think they are pretty and it doesn’t come across as vain. However, whenever Lola continuously talks about how beautiful she is in one chapter, I just want to gag. Ellie is a brat. Because of her crush, she’s rude to Anne throughout the entire novel… and it gets old fast. She also uses a guy’s crush on her to get back at her crush. However, she does redeem herself at the end by trying to make things right with Anne. The worst of all the characters is Anne. She never redeems herself. All she does is complain, whether it’s about moving to California, not spending enough time with her father (even though every time he tries to spend time with her, she goes off with her new boyfriend), or basically, any little thing. She’s annoying, and I honestly could not stand her or understand why the other characters thought she was so great.

            The romances are nothing too special. All the guys are the typical, Californian surfers. However, some romances did not turn out the way I guessed, so I was surprised by this. It made the book less predictable than other similar beach stories.

            Despite the less than stellar characters, Laguna Beach is the perfect book to keep you entertained while tanning or on a long car ride.

 

Cruel Summer

            Unlike Laguna Cove, Cruel Summer is written in the form of letters, blog posts, and emails by the main character, Colby. While Colby’s parents work through a messy divorce back in California, Colby spends her entire summer on a tiny Greek island named Tinos with her Crazy Aunt Tally. Although Colby is less than thrilled to leave her newfound popularity behind, she finds new friends and a romance in Tinos. 

            Cruel Summer, like Laguna Cove, serves its purpose. It isn’t a deep book that’s going to make you contemplate life after you’ve read it. However, it’s an easy summer book that’s perfect for a quick read.  

            After reading both novels, I have concluded that Alyson Noël has a talent for creating whiny protagonists. Like Laguna Cove, I didn’t really like the main character. Throughout the whole first half of the story, all Colby does is whine about how she doesn’t want to go to Greece and how she can’t hang out with her new popular friend back in California. I understand that Colby is upset, but the whole first half all she does is whine about every little thing. However, it does get better in the second half when she stops whining.

            As for the secondary characters, they are okay. I like how Aunt Tally added some depth to the story. However, I simply could not understand why Colby was so obsessed with the popular girl. She just seemed rude, and often times, I found her behavior made Colby behave in that manner as well.

            I actually enjoyed the romance in this book. Colby doesn’t use boys to make other boys jealous or think boys drop at her feet (cough, Laguna Cove). Her relationship and attraction towards her love interest seems real and believable. I liked her relationship and (SPOILER) their online banter is pretty darn cute.

            While I enjoyed the characters more, I felt like the plot is so-so. The first half moves painstakingly slow. There is not a lot of drama to keep things interesting. I often found myself bored throughout the first half of Cruel Summer because there honestly isn’t anything going on except for Colby groaning about something or pining after a boy that clearly has no feelings for her.

            While Cruel Summer may not be an earth-shattering novel, you will not be disappointed if all you are searching for is a quick beach read. 

 

Which book did I enjoy more?

            Although I prefer the characters in Cruel Summer, I liked Laguna Cove a bit more. There is enough drama to keep the story interesting and moving quickly, which is what I prefer in a quick summer read.

 

Disclaimer: I borrowed Forever Summer from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 



The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen Review

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            To say that I like Sarah Dessen’s novels is an understatement. Not only am I completely in love with the characters and get immersed in the setting, but I also connect to the novels on a deeper level. So, when I discovered that her newest book would hit shelves this summer, I literally could not stand the wait. However, after reading The Moon and More, I am sad to say that I am slightly disappointed, as the novel didn’t exactly reach my expectations (although it was still good).

            The Moon and More follows Emaline during the summer before she leaves for college. Everything seems to be changing in Emaline’s life all at once—she breaks up with the boyfriend that she has been dating since the ninth grade, her mostly absentee biological father reappears after months without communication, and a cute New Yorker named Theo helping with a documentary about a local artist has caught her eye. With so much in her life changing, Emaline is torn between her roots in Colby and the new, lavish future that Theo promises.

            Out of all Sarah Dessen’s books, I find this one the least engaging (at least, for the first half, that is). Now, in her other books, there is no huge catastrophic event, no real big ka-pow like say, in a dystopian novel. I acutally like how her books document people's everyday lives, which can sometimes be anti-climatic. However, in The Moon and More, I found myself... dare I say, bored? While there is some drama at the beginning of the novel, I found myself kind of bored throughout the first half. It felt like absolutely nothing was happening except background to the present day. I like Dessen's flashbacks, but in this, it seemed like not much was happening during the present day until at least one hundred pages into the story.

            Sarah Dessen books are known for the romance. Wes, Owen, and Dexter are all love interests that swept me off my feet. While I understand that the romance isn’t the main focus of this novel, I expected to at least have one or two sa-woon moments. However, I was greatly disappointed as I didn’t really like either of the love interests. Luke is perfectly fine, just your average typical boy. While he isn't anything to write home about (although very realistic), I enjoyed him far more than Theo. I couldn’t find myself rooting for Emaline and Theo at all. Emaline constantly compared Theo to her ten-year-old half brother Benji, so it was hard to look past this image, especially since Theo behaved like a child at certain points in the book. I hate how he belittled Colby and how he thinks he’s better and more refined since he lives in New York City. His arrogant attitude got on my nerves so much that I wanted to punch him at parts of the novel. Literally everything that came out of his mouth makes him seem like a jerk. I didn’t like their relationship at all.

            While I didn’t particularly like these male characters that much, I did love Benji. He was cute and added depth to the story. I enjoyed reading every part that he is in. As for the other secondary characters, I was a tad under whelmed. Dessen typically makes her secondary characters memorable and they add to the story. For me, they weren’t as developed as her other characters in other novels. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Daisy, Morris, and the rest of her family. They each had their own individual, unique personalities. However, I just felt like something was missing from these characters that are present in her other novels.

            Although I didn’t like these aspects of the book, I liked how this Sarah Dessen book felt more real and raw than some of her other ones. As I mentioned previously, I am a sucker for Dessen romances. While I was somewhat sad that I didn’t like the love interests, I am actually happy that this story didn’t have the typical happily-ever-after ending that many of her books have. It felt real and more mature than some of Dessen’s other novels and it’s something that I appreciated as a happily-ever-after would have seemed silly and out of place in this novel. 

            However, my favorite part of the entire novel is the family aspect, especially Emaline’s relationship with her biological father. Dessen wrote the scenes between Emaline and her father perfectly and their ending is believable and adds a great touch to the story. Likewise, I appreciated Emaline's relationship with her family. It felt very real.

            As always, make sure to keep an eye out for mentions of characters in previous novels. There’s a bunch, but I won’t spoil any of them for you!

            So, while I was somewhat disappointed that some aspects of the novel didn’t reach my high expectations, I did enjoy The Moon and More. While the beginning is slow, the ending is superb. Some may not like the more mature tone of The Moon and More, but it is still a good story that is worth your time.  

Disclaimer: I borrowed The Moon and More from my library (but I hope to own it soon!) I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Private by Kate Brian (Private #1) Review

(Photo: fantasticfiction.co.uk)

 

Going into Private by Kate Brian, I did not have very high expectations. Despite negative reviews, I still hoped that the Private series would be a guilty pleasure like reality TV shows on MTV. However, after reading Private, I can say that I will most likely not continue with the series as I despise almost every single character in the novel.

            Private follows sophomore Reed Brennan as she transfers from boring Pennsylvania to the super exclusive and elite Easton Academy. With a fresh new start, Reed hopes to evolve from her former friendless self into a social butterfly. And her in? The beautiful and rich Billings Girls that rule the school. Reed will do anything to be their friend. But, is it worth the cost? (Here’s a hint, Reed—NO.)

            There is not much that I liked about this book, but the worst part is Reed. She is absolutely pathetic. No matter how nasty the Billings Girls treat her, she follows them around like a little lost puppy and does anything to please them, no matter what the cost. Even though they completely humiliate her, she thinks the torture is worth it. Why? She’ll have “friends.” She thinks that the Billings Girls are her only way to make friends. Um, hello? What about her nice (although somewhat superficial) roommate, Constance? Yeah, Constance has her flaws, but at least she does not force Reed to steal a physics test!

            Now, I have never read the Clique series, but I have seen the movie. Those girls have nothing on the Billings Girls. Massie Block (at least in the movie version) is no where near as manipulative and cruel as Noelle, who continuously demeans everyone around her and is just plain nasty. Noelle is truly an ugly person and her friends aren’t much better. They will do literally anything to please her, and it’s disgusting. I could not even muster an ounce of sympathy for the ones that I was suppose to like. Their behavior is so ridiculously mean that it actually made me dislike Reed even more because she wanted to be just like them (and, at times, truly does behave just like them).

            I hated, hated, HATED Thomas. Cute “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift right now, please. His relationship with Reed is downright disturbing. Not only is he an alcoholic and drug dealer, but I am convinced he is a complete PSYCHO as well. He manipulates Reed. One minute he “loves” her and the next he is bashing his fist into a wall than he is begging for her forgiveness. Multiple times he says, “You can’t do this. You love me.” At one point, he even says, “You have to love ALL of me” (when they are discussing his drug dealing habits). THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT HEALTHY. Yeah, you should like your partner, flaws and all. But, if these flaws consistent of serious creep-o behavior, then RUN AWAY. However, little clueless Reed doesn’t do this. She falls for his act... EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

            To me, the most disturbing part of this book is when Thomas literally makes Reed fall and hurt herself. But, get this—Reed is perfectly OKAY with this. WHAT? WHY? Oh, wait, it’s because the Billings Girls finally accept her. No, just no. This is not OKAY. This is abusive and just plain wrong. This justifies abuse as a way to gain a friendship and that just does not sit well with me.

            The only “positive” about Private is that the ending sets up a mystery for the next novel. But, that’s only a plus if (SPOILER) you care about Thomas’ mysterious disappearance.

            Which I did not. I actually cheered.

 

 

Disclaimer: I borrowed Private from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Review

(Photo credit: goodreads.com)

 

          They say never to judge a book by its cover… but I just couldn’t help myself with this one! The cover drew me in. It is seriously one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. At first, I expected this to be a light summer novel. With the title and the cute cover, I expected it to be about girls who go on vacation and meet boys. You know, your typical summer romance. However, after reading it, I can say this is definitely not your typical summer novel.

           Twenty Boy Summer follows Anna. Anna has always had a crush on her best friend Frankie’s older brother, Matt. When Matt kisses her on her fifteenth birthday, they secretly start dating. Matt decides that he will tell Frankie about his relationship with Anna when he and Frankie go on vacation to Zanzibar Bay. However, this never happens—before they go on vacation, Matt dies from a heart condition that nobody knew about.

            Thirteen months later, Frankie is still in the dark about Anna and Matt’s relationship and Anna is still not over Matt’s death. When Frankie asks Anna to go to Zanzibar Bay, she proposes that they meet 20 different boys to have the ‘Absolute Best Summer Ever.’ Anna is hesitant to agree with Frankie’s plan, but when she does she does not expect to fall in love or confront Matt’s death for good. 

            Twenty Boy Summer is beautifully written. Unlike most young adult novels, Twenty Boy Summer is not full of designer references, mean girls, or vampires. Instead, Ockler crafts a nearly perfect story full of love and heartbreak that left me experiencing the same emotions as the characters in the story. I seriously NEVER cry when reading books or watching movies. However, this book made me tear up quite a few times. Be prepared to go through a box of tissues on one page and laugh out loud on the next!

            However, what makes this novel so special are the characters. Each character has a different personality and deals with death in a different way. I could easily relate to many of the characters, and I don’t think anyone else would have much trouble either since there is such a variety.

            Even though I loved all the characters, Matt is definitely one of my favorites of the bunch . While he is only in the book for the first few chapters, the flashbacks that are sprinkled throughout the rest of the novel make you fall in love with him just as Anna did. However, the only downside to this is that I did not like Anna’s summer fling, Sam, as much as I loved Matt.

            The only bad part in Twenty Boy Summer is Frankie’s parents’ case of ‘missing parent syndrome.’ Even though Frankie says that they pick and choose what they want to hear, it becomes increasingly unbelievable that her parents never know about her and Anna’s true whereabouts. Throughout the novel, Frankie and Anna venture off on their own, even as far as San Francisco which is two hours away, and Frankie’s parents do not catch onto their lying. While it allows the characters to have a wild and care-free summer, it just comes off as unbelievable.

           Although the cover suggests that Twenty Boy Summer is an easy beach read, it is not a light novel and can be enjoyed anytime of the year.

Disclaimer: I borrowed Twenty Boy Summer from the library (but I need to own it because it is one of my favorite books!). I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!



The Selection by Kiera Cass Review

(Photo: kieracass.com)

 

         The Selection by Kiera Cass immediately caught my eye and not only because the dress on the cover is beautiful. The Selection promises to be a mixture of The Hunger Games and The Bachelor. The on-your-toes action of Hunger Games mixed with some juicy Bachelor drama? I was sold! However, after reading, I am sad to say: The Selection by Kiera Cass should not be a selection on your reading list.

            Years into the future, the United States has been renamed Illéa after it has been destroyed by war and divided into 35 provinces. The new country is not only divided by provinces, but by castes as well. Caste One is held by the royal family in contrast to Caste Eight, which faces starvation and poverty.

America (I-bet-you-can-guess-her-occupation) Singer, the story’s protagonist, belongs to Caste Five. Although her family is not dirt poor like those in Caste Eight, they still struggle with financial issues. Her “caste climber” mother has the solution to their economic problems—The Selection. The Selection consists of 35 girls (one from each province) competing for the prince’s hand in marriage.

Being selected brings fame and fortune, however, America does not want either. Instead, she wants to marry her secret boyfriend Aspen, who belongs to Caste Six. However, as fate not so surprisingly turns out, America is selected to compete and is whisked away to the palace to win Prince Maxon’s affections.

            While The Selection’s plot might seem like a good idea in theory, it is not executed well. If you are like me and expect a mixture of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, you will be greatly disappointed, since it’s not as entertaining as The Bachelor or as well written as The Hunger Games. Furthermore, The Selection feels unoriginal, as many aspects of the novel seem to come straight from The Hunger Games and the recent raft of other dystopian novels. Now, I’m not one of those people that constantly belittle any new dystopian book and think that The Hunger Games should be thrust onto a dystopian pedestal (even though it is one of my favorite series). However, if you are directly comparing your novel to The Hunger Games, I am going to find similarities, and I found plenty in The Selection.

            Likewise, I was completely dissatisfied with the "dystopia" (I use this term loosely) aspect of the novel. Although The Selection is set in the future and sells itself as a dystopian compete-or-die book, there is nothing truly dystopian in the novel. Sure, the author throws in that there is a war and the previous United States has fallen apart, but other than that, it is simply about the girls vying for Prince Maxon’s attention. A true dystopian novel focuses on a current problem in society and exaggerates it to show possible consequences for our behavior. The Selection does neither and attempts to establish any type of dystopia in a flimsy history lesson.

            Besides lacking in content, The Selection’s characters are lackluster. America’s character is completely inconsistent. The author tries to make her a strong heroine, but she only comes across as another flighty teenage girl. Hint: Red hair is not the only characterization for being strong. However, I did enjoy when she told Prince Maxon she was there for the food. That is totally something that I would do. In addition, there are so many contestants that I struggled to remember their names and personalities. The most popularly mentioned contestants have one-dimensional personalities and add nothing to the story.

            The so-called “love triangle” is laughable at best. Honestly, I have not idea which relationship to root for since neither guy is very appealing. Aspen’s personality is too hot and cold, and he becomes easily angered. On the other hand, Prince Maxon is awkward and stiff. However, to the author’s credit, Prince Maxon is at least not the typical, arrogant male lead of the young adult genre. Nevertheless, it is hard to tell how America, or us readers, can fall for either.

            Yet, the worst part of the novel is the dialogue. The dialogue, especially between America and Prince Maxon, is forced and uncomfortable. The author tries to make Prince Maxon sound like royalty, but instead, it just makes him sound gawky and strange. I literally cringed at one scene and had to put that book aside. I am even an awkward person, but the scene was so awkward that I struggled to read it!

            All in all, I am not a fan of The Selection. However, I am interested in checking out the second novel in the series to see if it improves. 

Disclaimer: I borrowed The Selection from my library. I am not being compensated for this review in any way! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Breanna Blabbers: My Summer Reading Bucket List

(Photo credit: authorsnow.com, fantasticfiction.co.uk, nerdfightasticadventures.blogspot.com)

 

       With the long days of summer ahead, I decided to compile a list of books that I'd like to read. I tried to keep the majority of the books summer related, but a few others snuck their way onto the list. While I know that I most likely won't get through all these books, I hope to get through the majority of them (and write reviews, of course)!

 

To Read:

1. Forever Summer by Alyson Noel
2. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
3. The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
4. Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor
5. Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott
6. Death by Bikini Mysteries by Linda Gerber
7. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
8. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
9. Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
10. Gimme A Call by Sarah Mlynowski
11. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
12. The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin
13. The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
14. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
15. Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
16. The A-List by Zoey Dean
17. Small Damages by Beth Kephart
18. Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen
19. Incarceration by Catherine Fisher
20. When It Happens by Susane Colasanti
21. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
22. Virals by Kathy Reichs

Reread:

1. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
2. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
3. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
4. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
5. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
6. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

 

What’s on your summer reading bucket list?

Any suggestions for my list?

 

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler Review

(Photo: goodreads.com)

 

          Finding a good contemporary young adult book in a sea of novels about mythical creatures and dystopian societies is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, after searching high and low, I have discovered an author that seems to get it right every time—Sarah Ockler. With four books under her belt, Ockler is proving to be one of the best young-adult authors on the shelves today. With that being said, Fixing Delilah is a book that needs to hit your summer reading list and would be a perfect introduction to her work.

            Fixing Delilah follows seventeen-year-old Delilah Hannaford, a girl with a bad reputation for sneaking out with her “non-boyfriend” and stealing from Blush Cosmetics. With her father dead and a workaholic mother, Delilah spends most nights by herself at home. That is, until she is told that her grandmother is dead and she and her mother must go back to her grandmother’s house in Vermont for the entire summer to attend the funeral and sell the house.

            There, Delilah attempts to uncover the mysteries that tear her family apart, like what happened to her mother’s dead younger sister and the fight between her mother and grandmother that ended all communication between them eight years before. With her old summer best friend (and love interest) Patrick, new friend Emily, and aunt, Delilah learns that even the most broken relationships are worth mending.

            Like other Ockler’s other novels Twenty Boy Summer and Bittersweet, Ockler crafts a heart breaking story with real characters and relatable problems. Unlike other summer novels, Fixing Delilah is not light and fluffy. As always, you may want to grab a box of tissues before sitting down with this bad boy. You’ll most likely end up in tears through the majority of the novel.

            The characters in Fixing Delilah are simply perfection. Delilah is an extremely relatable protagonist. Her evolution from an angsty teen to a more understanding one is a pleasure to read. Any teenager will be able to relate to her rocky relationship with her family and the experience of falling in love. Although her mother at first comes across as the stereotypical workaholic mother, as the story develops, she becomes a character with many layers. However, the best part of the characters is that they all have flaws. No character is “perfect” like many other characters in young adult novels. They’re real, which is refreshing in a genre overcrowded with perfect boyfriends and other similar stereotypes.

            In addition, Ockler perfectly captures a teenage voice. Some other authors struggle to write in a way that makes protagonists sound like teenagers. However, Ockler is not one of them. Delilah sounds like the average teenager, and this is not accomplished with overused slang like many other authors try to do (I mean, just because you say LOL doesn’t mean you sound like a teenage girl). It sounds like your listening to your best friend, which personally made me feel a stronger connection to the story. 

            The plot is beautifully written. Ockler has a way of taking a simple idea and making it complicated, heartbreaking, and captivating. I literally could not put the book down, which caused me family members to question my sanity once or twice on Christmas day when I received and promptly started reading the book. Seriously, not one part of the book falls flat and Ockler has a way with words.

            Besides an interesting plot and great characters, Ockler tackles tough topics wonderfully. In the novel, Ockler addresses suicide, death, depression, and a broken family. She does not do this in a clichéd way and the characters’ reactions to each situation is believable. Although this may seem like a wide range of topics to discuss in one novel, Ockler pulls it off perfectly and each topic is addressed completely.

            Fans of Ockler’s other novels and Sarah Dessen will love Fixing Delilah. Ockler’s latest novel, The Book of Broken Hearts, hit shelves this May.

Disclaimer: I receieved Fixing Delilah as a Christmas present. I am not being compensated for this review in any way! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie Review

(Photo Credit: Matched (thebookbasement.blogspot.org, thebookdepartment, shelf-life.ew.com) 

 

Disclaimer: This review contains a review for each book in the trilogy. If you haven’t completed one and do not wish to spoil any of the plot, continue at your own risk. I would hate to spoil anything for you! At the end, I will also describe my thoughts of the series as a whole. Enjoy!

Let me preface this review with this: I am a sucker for romance and dystopian novels. After reading the description of Matched on Goodreads, it immediately became a must-read, as it combines both of these things. However, after completing the entire Matched series, I am incredibly disappointed as it did not reach the high expectations I had after reading rave reviews about the series.

Matched

Ally Condie

Pub: 2010, 369 pages

        I am not going to lie. The first thing that drew me in about this novel was the cover. Typically, I despise any cover with a girl in a gown who uses her hair to hide her face. I mean, nowadays, that is pretty much on every cover of YA fiction and for most novels, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. However, Matched was different. Trapped inside a bubble? It actually gave me an idea about the story rather than “Oh, look at me! I’m in a pretty dress!” However, as mentioned at the beginning of this review, what sold me was that the novel promised to be a delicious mixture of romance and dystopia.

         Matched follows sixteen-year-old Cassia Reyes. In Cassia’s futuristic society, citizens have no choices, as the Society decides everything for them. Every little thing, from their jobs to what they eat, is controlled by the Society. However, most important to this story, citizens are “matched” to their future spouse by the Society. Cassia is paired with Xander, her childhood friend. However, when Cassia goes to view her microcard, another face pops up- Ky Markham. Since Ky is an Aberration, this is an impossible match. Yet, Cassia finds herself falling for Ky and questioning the Society.

         Matched has an interesting premise that immediately sucks readers in. You just want to keep turning the pages because you want to know why Ky’s face appeared on Cassia’s microcard (and what she is going to do about it.) The end is a huge cliff hanger, so kudos to Condie. It actually made me interested in reading the second novel and not just dropping it like I have done with other dystopian series that have failed to convince me to invest my time in the rest of the series.

         Condie’s style is what truly makes this novel unique from others in the dystopian genre. Condie’s writing flows like one big poem. Although it is not exactly my cup of tea, I really appreciate that Condie has her own unique voice that sets her apart from the countless other dystopian novels crowding the shelves at Barnes and Noble. Her style added to the overall effect of the novel, and makes the novel memorable.

          Cassia is a decent protagonist. Although she didn't capture my heart as other heroines in her genre did (such as Tris from Divergent and Katniss from The Hunger Games), she is likeable. It was a pleasure watching her develop into a strong protagonist that wants to make her own decisions after beginning the novel as naive and completely oblivious to the Society's lies.

         Unfortunately, the romance did not meet my expectations. I could not really get into either of the male love interests, so it was hard to become invested in the love triangle. The childhood friend love interest typically has my heart beating faster and my palms sweating, but I didn’t feel anything, not even a spark, between Cassia and Xander. I much preferred Ky, however, even he didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

         After reading various rave reviews, I am not going to lie. I was slightly disappointed that I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. It’s a decent dystopian book, but it just didn’t completely wow me as others in the same genre have.

Crossed

Ally Condie

Pub: 2011, 400 pages

         Oh, Crossed. Where shall I start? You had all the requirements for a typical young adult dystopian novel- an overbearing government, a love triangle, and a rebellion against the said overbearing government. I really wanted to like you. I really did. However, I’m positive that watching grass grow would have been much more enjoyable than reading you.

         Crossed begins five months after the initial Matching ceremony in Matched. While Cassia is at a work camp preparing for her job as a sorter, Ky has been sent to the Outer Provinces to act as a decoy in the Society’s war against the enemy. Since Cassia is so in love with Ky, she obviously can’t leave him there and sets off to the Outer Provinces with her new Aberration friend Indie. Along the way, Cassia learns about a rebellion called the Rising lead by the leader named the Pilot.

         Honestly, the only good thing about Crossed is the cover art, which is disappointing since Matched set up a promising series. While Matched had enough action to keep me interested, Crossed is literally all talk and no action. The only action in the entire novel comes in on the last 100 pages or so, but the beginning is so boring that I struggled to read the entire book and not fall asleep.

         Unlike Matched, Crossed is told in the perspectives of both Cassia and Ky. While this seems like a good idea in theory, it did not fare well in this story. I really did like learning more about Ky. I felt like I got to know him better as a character. However, the same cannot be said for Cassia. Whenever Cassia has a chance to narrate, all she seems to do is talk about Ky and how much she loooveeess him. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those readers that believes a girl character is weak just because she likes a guy. Feeling giddy about a guy is something natural and makes a character more relatable. However, Cassia never seems to shut up about him, and after awhile, it just got a bit annoying. In addition, Condie fails to give Ky and Cassia distinct voices. Although her style is unique, the characters sound too much alike, even to the point that I had to go back and check the beginning of the chapter to see who was narrating.

         However, the worst aspect of the novel was the so-called love triangle. When I think of a well-written love triangle, I think of tension, passion, and confusion. Yet, I didn’t feel any of these emotions while reading Crossed. There doesn’t seem to be any real competition between Xander and Ky to Cassia. Xander is barely mentioned throughout the story, so it was hard to feel conflicted between the two boys because I didn’t really know anything about Xander. But, stay tuned- the love triangle is a much bigger part of the final book.

         As I mentioned in my review of Matched, I was rooting for Ky at the end of Matched. But after reading Crossed, I’m not too keen on either of the love interests. Ky just rubs me the wrong way, and I don’t know enough about Xander to know whether I like or dislike him.

In all, Crossed was just one big disappointment.

Reached

Ally Condie

Pub: 2012, 512 pages

         After Crossed, my expectations for Reached by Ally Condie were not very high. So, why did I choose to continue with the series? After suffering through Crossed, I just wanted to know how the story ended. However, after reading Reached, I was pleasantly surprised, as it far surpasses the other novels in the series, in my own opinion.

         Reached picks up where Crossed, left off. Cassia, Ky, and Xander have joined the Rising (the rebellion against the society) and are working on their separate assignments to aid the Rising’s progression. Meanwhile, the Plague, a deadly virus that causes the Society’s members to go still, runs rampant throughout the provinces.

         When the Pilot (the Rising’s leader) emerges, the Rising brings a cure to the Plague. The Society easily crumbles and the Rising begins to take over. However, when a mutated version of the Plague threatens to destroy all that the Rising has created, Cassia cannot help but wonder whether the Rising is truly a rebellion, or just the Society with a different name.

         Out of all three novels in the series, Reached is certainly the best. Unlike Matched and Crossed, the novel is fast-paced and literally shocked me with plot twists. However, these elements simply could not make up for the lack of character development and shaky foundation,

so I still was not overly impressed.

         The best part of the novel is the plot. In the first two novels, I felt confused at the vague terms that Condie threw around and expected me to understand. Thankfully, in Reached, these terms are explained and concepts that were only briefly touched upon in the first two novels are relevant in the story and are wrapped up nicely. Unlike in Crossed, I was not left bored to tears. The story had enough action to keep me interested and I wanted to know what was happening.

         Like Crossed, Reached is told from multiple point of views. Cassia, Ky, and Xander all have their chances to tell parts of the story. Since Xander was barely mentioned throughout the rest of the series, I enjoyed getting to read his parts of the story. However, much like Crossed,

the characters fail to have distinct voices. Although it is written in Condie’s unique prose, she fails to deliver authentic male voices.

         Unfortunately, the main characters are nothing to write home about. While Xander is an interesting protagonist (however, this may be due to the fact I virtually knew nothing about him before), Ky doesn’t add much interest to the story and doesn’t seem to have changed much from the first book. Cassia, who lost her edge in the second novel, does redeem herself at the end of the novel, but fails to add much to the story during the first half. The best characters actually are the sub-characters. Oker is reminiscent of House and adds an unexpected depth to the story. I actually laughed out loud at a few of his one-liners.

         But, the biggest fail of the entire series has to be the non-existent love triangle. Cassia made her choice from the first book and there is no tension among the three characters. The premise of the entire series rests on the love triangle and Cassia’s freedom of choosing whom she wants, which is so poorly done, it feels as if an important point of the novel is taken out.

         At the end of the second novel, I felt conflicted between both male characters since I wasn’t into either character. In Reached, I became a total Xander fan. Although I expected Cassia to choose Ky, I was highly disappointed in her choice because I ended up like Xander far more than Ky. However, I am still glad that Xander ended up with someone in the end (and since I am not particularly a fan of Cassia, good for him!).

Thoughts on the Entire Series

         More plot driven than character driven, the Matched Trilogy is a decent series. From this reviewer, it only garners three stars at best. While the first and last novels are decently written, the second novel hurts the series overall. The Matched Trilogy is not on par with numerous other dystopian series, so it only manages to be average at best.

         If you are interested in another dystopian series, you may want to check out the Matched Trilogy.

Disclaimer: I received Matched as a Christmas present. I borrowed Crossed and Reached from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! My reviews for Crossed and Reached were originally published in my school newspaper, but were altered to fit the style of my blog.