Saving June Review

Author: Hannah Harrington
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Most appropriate for ages: 14+
How I got it: Received for review through Netgalley 

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.

I knew that I would love this book when there was a debate on the existence of modern day punk rock in the first eighty pages or so. I was soooo right. Saving June is a completely fantastic book. I devoured it in less than twenty four hours and I loved every single second of it.

...There may be a gush-fest ahead. You've been warned.

Harper Scott (the main character) is a lot like me, and also a lot not like me. We're both sarcastic, have trouble expressing and sometimes even feeling emotions, and like indie rock, but Harper is a lot stronger and tougher than me. She was such a wonderfully realistic character and I loved her.

Every character was realistic and great, actually. I was really impressed that Harper and Laney were so close and always had each other's backs. You don't see enough of that in YA these days. It's all, "Oh you stole my boyfriend," and crap like that but not in Saving June!< And I'm not even gonna try and write about Jake or I'd probably just fangirl for a few paragraphs. You're welcome. Basically, Saving June had everything I ever wanted in a book: a story of grief, a romance, lots and lots of music, a sexy guy, political activism, an amazing road trip, fantastic humor, lots of tears...everything, guys. I referred to it as my Soul Book because of it, and I stand by that.

I have several highlighted quotes on my e-reader of funny jokes, profound thoughts, or just things that resonated with me. As you can tell, I completely loved this book. So. Much. I need my own copy to go on my Favorites shelf because I already want to re-read it. It got to me in all the right ways, and I feel like I can't properly describe exactly how it did that...hence the crappy review you read.

Plot: Brilliant and unique.

Characters: Fantastic.

Writing: Amazing.

Ending: Per-fect-ion.

Kid Friendly? There was sex, drugs, drinking, and swearing.

Overall:

Lola and the Boy Next Door Review

Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Pages: 338 (HC)
Publisher: Dutton
Most Appropriate For Ages: 13+
Where I Got It: From the library

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I am such a sucker for Perkins' books. They make me so, incredibly happy it's insane.

Much as she did in Anna and the French Kiss, Perkins' creates wonderful characters with unique yet believable quirks and personalities that you can't help but adore after a only a short time. All the characters (except Max): Lola, Cricket, her dads (yep, dads, two of them, and they're awesome) Lindsey, Calliope, Cricket...

Oh, and she also knows every word a girl wants to hear. Just one sentence that Cricket says can make your heart melt.

But no, not only her characters are fantastic. Her setting, her ability to completely grab hold of your attention, her way of being profound without shoving down it your throat, the way she makes you feel everything her characters are feeling... Yes, I may be a Stephanie Perkins fangirl, what of it?

It is insane, but this author is one of the very few that possess the ability to turn me into a romantic teenage girl. It's creepy, guys, how quickly and smoothly it happens, but I don't even care 'cause I'm just so in love with this author.

Plot: Fun and completely engrossing.

Characters: I WANT A CRICKET...er, I mean, they were all awesome. ('Cept Max. UGH.)

Writing: Great.

Ending: Lalalala so happy-making.

Kid Friendly? There's language, mentions of sex and drugs, and her birth mother's an alcoholic.

Should I read it? Absolutely. You may wanna read Anna and the French Kiss first, though, since the characters make several appearances.

Overall:

Easy.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz Review

Author: A.S. King
Release Date: October 12, 2010
Pages: 336 (HC)
Publisher: Knopf
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Gifted

Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

Everyone who's read this book has loved it, so I finally decided to give it a go.

And wow. I wasn't disappointed. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is unlike anything I've ever read in the best way possible and I don't know how my mere review could do it justice.

King's writing is powerful, gripping, funny, and real, as are her characters. I continuously wanted to smack them or hug them because they just felt so wonderfully real. I seriously could go on and on about how I felt bad for each of them and hated them at times but loved them all the times, but I shan't cause...well, I think you get the idea.

The story unfolds in such a different, grabbing way and I quickly found myself furiously flipping the pages, trying to find out what happened to Charlie and his and Vera's friendship. What I found was often incredibly raw and sad, but there were some parts of their past that were just so sweet and...and... Sigh. Obviously this book totally ripped my heart out and smashed on it and I just have a lot of feelings right now okay.

This novel found it's way into my heart and onto my personal favorites shelf, and now I'm eagerly awaiting my chance to get a hold of more of A.S. King's works.

Plot: Brilliant and unlike anything I've read before.

Characters: So unbelievably real and angering and...wow.

Writing: Amazing.

Kid Friendly? There's language, mentions of sex and pedophilia.

Should I read it? Absolutely.

Overall:

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer Review

Author: Lish Mcbride
Release Date: October 12, 2010
Pages: 342 (HC)

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co

Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+

Where I Got It: Bought

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.

Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

I'm so sick of the paranormal genre. The characters are always flat and the plots are always the same. Luckily, this wasn't the case with Lish McBride's debut, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Quite the opposite, actually.

From page one I could tell that McBride's humor was right up my alley, and it really was. I loved that there was so much humor in this book, and I think it helped make sure that none of the characters took themselves too seriously. The book didn't take itself too seriously, which made it that much better.

The plot was the perfect blend of suspense, originality, and fun. The combination kept me turning pages late into the night, eager to find out what misadventures poor Samhein (usually called Sam).

Each of the characters are original and lovable. Sam was oddly adorable, Ramon (who's name I kept wanting to pronounce as "Ramone" as in, "Oh how I love The Ramones!") was a wonderfully loyal best friend, and Brid was such an awesome and strong chick. I absolutely loved all of them.

Read Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Read it if you're sick of paranormal, read it if you're still into paranormal, just...read it.

Plot: Grabbing and wonderful.

Characters: Can't I just keep them? Or at least Sam?

Writing: Sam's voice comes across really naturally, which is impressive.

Ending: Good but I want the sequel nooow!

Kid Friendly? There's language, violence, and (not descriptive) sex.

Should I read it? Absolutely.

Overall:

The Iron Knight Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Pages: 394 (e-galley)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review through Netgalley
Other Titles in Series: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

This book is so emotional. It was the ultimate Emotion Roller Coaster. Here are some of the things I (literally) shouted while reading:

"Look out!"
"WAIT WHAT."
"AHHHH NO."
"Yes!"
"NO."
"Yes!"
"I just want to bake Ash a cake made of rainbows and smiles so he can eat it and be happy!"
"NOOOO."
"YES!!!"
"Yeah, you know that's right!"
"Oh snap, I like you!"
"Ahhh!"
"...Wait, what?"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND."
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND."
"I'M LOSING MY MIND."
"I THINK MY BRAIN JUST EXPLODED."
"OH GOD IT'S SO SAD!"
"SO SAD."
"I KNEW IT! I WAS RIGHT."
"Yay!!'
"Um there are only like 60 pages left. How am I going to survive without this series in my life?"
"Only 50 pages left AHHH."
"Only 40 pages left I CAN'T TAKE IT."
"...Wait my ereader says I have 30 more pages but I don't. AH I FEEL CHEATED. Now I need to re-read the series to get my 30 pages in."

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my thoughts.

So, in a nutshell: I've fallen in love with this series, totally and completely. I've laughed and been kept on the edge of my seat, The Iron Queen was the only book to ever make me cry, and I've never been as verbal while reading when I read The Iron Knight (see above). I'm so, so sad to see it ending but so ridiculously happy with how it ended. If you haven't read it yet, please change that immediately.

Plot: Yes.

Characters: Yes.

Writing: Yes.

Ending: SO MUCH YES.

Kid Friendly? There may have been a tad of swearing, and some (very non-explicit) sex.

Should I read it? Abso-freaking-lutely.

Overall:

Anna and the French Kiss Review

Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: December 2, 2010
Pages: 378
Publisher: Dutton
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From library

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna--and readers--have long awaited?

Hype is a dangerous, dangerous thing. And Anna and the French Kiss has been one of the most hyped about books I've come across in my two years of blogging. (Notice the italics? It means I'm serious.) So, I went into Anna half-expecting to not like it because of that. Also, I expected to be the snooty reviewer that finds a bunch of stuff wrong with the book and burst everyone's bubble. Because it gives me joy.

But, guys.

I couldn't find anything wrong with it.

It's okay though, cause Anna gave me WAY more joy than bubble-popping does.

The characters and dialogue and general awesome of this book had me grinning from ear to ear at page one. It also made me laugh out loud, want to crawl into the book and give the characters a much-needed hug and chocolate bar, and realize that I like romantic stuff more than I'd realized. (I mean, I have a list of chick-flicks. But they have to be well-written chick-flicks--10 Things I Hate About You, Easy A, Say Anything, Every John Hughes Movie Ever, etc.)

It was like an out-of-body experience, reading Anna. I saw myself reading and tell my family to shut up and giggling (seriously, like, girlish giggling) at St. Clair. Out-of-body-me was all, "How are you reading that fast? How are you already that far in? STOP READING YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO!" But I didn't listen.

Then when it was over, I was incredibly sad that it was. These characters had become my friends and St. Clair had become my obsession book-crush, and I am not in Paris. I was not living in Perkins' world. Who wouldn't be sad about that?

I am not quite sure how Anna and the French Kiss went from Just Another Chick Book to an OMG GREAT BOOK Book, but it did. I cannot wait for Perkins' next novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and to just buy a copy of Anna, because I know this is a story that will need to be revisited again and again.

Plot: The feel-good girl-story girls all know and love, but...different, somehow.

Characters: LOOOOVE.

Writing: So good.

Ending: Perfection.

Kind Friendly? There was swearing, mentions of sex, making out, and teen drinking (though in Paris it's legal).

Should I read it? YEAH. OBVIOUSLY.

Overall:

Past Perfect Review

Author: Leila Sales
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Pages: 322 (egalley)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Galley Grab

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

When I picked up Past Perfect, I hadn't heard much about it. I had heard good things about Sales' debut novel, Mostly Good Girls, and if it is anything like this book than I'll have to pick it up sooner than later, 'cause I had a blast reading Past Perfect.

I know I say books are funny a lot, but guys believe me when I say that this book is FUNNY in every way a book can be. From Chelsea's inner-thoughts, to the way she interacts with her best friend Fiona and her dad (her dad!), to the whole concept behind a Revolutionary War VS. Civil War war, Past Perfect had me smiling and laughing non-stop.

But there is more to Past Perfect than just being a funny book. It also talked a lot about how to get over the past and to remember it correctly and...well, without getting too personal, it was exactly what I needed right now. I definitely learned something from this book that I'll be remembering for a long time, and I can't thank Sales enough for that.

Watching Chelsea stumble through her last summer as a high-schooler and figuring out right and wrong proved to be entertaining and insightful. I can't wait to read more from Leila Sales, because I have a feeling that there's nowhere to go but up from here.

Plot: Different and fun and interesting.

Characters: Chelsea (realistically) screwed up a lot, but I loved her anyways. And Dan. And Fiona. And Tawny. And her dad. And...yeah, everyone.

Writing: Very good!

Ending: Saw it coming, but whatever. It was still great.

Kind Friendly? There was mild swearing, mentions of teen drinking, and some making out.
Should I read it? Yes. Definitely. I think everyone will need to learn Leila's lessons as much as she did. (And even if you don't, you should still definitely read it. Especially if you like history. Or if you don't. JUST READ IT.)

Overall:

Forever Review

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Pages: 388 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Scholastic
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Bought
Other titles in series: Shiver, Linger

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

There is no feeling in the world like the one you get when you read the last book in one of your favorite series. You're excited because you know it'll be amazing, but also depressed because your character's story are coming to an end and you're just not quite ready to say goodbye. This creates a whole new, indescribable emotion in you that you can't really get any other way. The last time I felt this was about one year ago, when I read Mockingjay, and it's what I felt when I started Forever.

Much like Mockingjay, a lot of people seem to be disappointed by the way this series finished. And--just like when I read Mockingjay--I have to disagree with those people.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls series has some of my favorite characters ever. Ever. Sam, Grace, Cole, Isabel...I would've read a million more books about them. (And still will. HINT HINT.) But I'm happy. Stiefvater did justice to these character's end with her always poetic and suspenseful writing that I want to memorize. She's one of my very favorite authors, and I will read anything she ever decides to write.

Much like it's predecessors, Forever was romantic, impossible-to-put-down, and absolutely heartbreaking for so many reasons. I fell hard for Forever, just as I expected. This is one of my top favorite series ever and now I guess I'll just be rereading it as soon as I possibly can.

Plot: As usual, those who crave action won't love it. But I thought it was incredibly suspenseful and amazing.

Characters: The only thing I dislike about them? They're not--technically--real. :(

Writing: So. Fricking. Amazing.

Ending: I liked it. It wasn't perfectly wrapped up, but I feel like that's kinda appropriate for this story.

Kid friendly? There's some swearing, drinking, and sex.
Should I read it? READ THIS SERIES.

Overall:

Do you even have to ask?

(I realize this review is not really a, well, review. Sorry.) 

Summer's Crossing Mini-Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Pages: 57 (E-book)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Downloaded (legally) for free

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

What a nice little tidbit of awesome to keep me (mildly) satisfied until The Iron Knight. This short story had everything I've come to expect from the wonderful Mrs. Kagawa: action, tragic romance, and humor. And of course it helped that this story was from Puck's point of view, which was so cool, since I love me some Puck. Basically, in only 50-some pages, I gasped and laughed and had a blast. Loved this...of course! More please.

Jellicoe Road Review

 

Author: Melina Marchetta
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Pages: 418 (HC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Library

In this lyrical, absorbing, award-winning novel, nothing is as it seems, and every clue leads to more questions.

At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future. 

I have read really great things about this book. Like, "it changed my life," great things. So needless to say, my expectations were high...and they were beyond met.

I spent that first 100 or 150 pages of Jellicoe Road pretty confused, but still oddly absorbed. And then once my questions were answered and my confusion was lifted, I was even more absorbed.

The characters in Jellicoe Road are each funny, unique, and wonderful. Taylor is an extraordinary narrator, with such a dark past and sarcastic outlook on life. Then there's Jonah Griggs, who has definitely made it onto my Top Guys List. Yeah, he's just that completely and utterly awesome. His past is as dark as Taylor's, and he's trying to cope with it. Something about him just really made me fall for him hard. (You'll understand my freakish obsession if you take my advice and read this.)

This book blends the past, present, and future beautifully and naturally. The result is a grabbing plot that's completely different from anything I've read before. After I got about 100 pages into this book, I never wanted to stop reading it.

Marchetta is an incredibly talented and gorgeous writer. Seriously, there are so many passages in this book that I re-read. I would share some with you, but there are way too many.

This book make me laugh and clutch my stomach in sympathy pains.This book made me swoon and want to scream. It broke my heart only to put it back together again. Melina Marchetta is a genius, and she's written a super fantastically amazing book, so go read. it.

Book Report:

Plot: Brilliant.

Characters: Looooooooove them!

Writing: Kinda freaking amazing.

Ending: Perfect!

Kid friendly? There's language, sex, drug use, and mentions of pedophilia.

Should I read it? YESYESYESYESYES.

Overall:

 

Divergent Review

Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 487 (ARC)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Borrowed
Challenges: 2011 Debut Author

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Divergent was soooo hyped. Every review I'd read of it gave it five stars, rave reviews, and insisted that it MUST be read. Naturally, this brought up two reactions from me:

1. I NEED IT.

2. The sad thing is it's probably not even that good... I better put on my snob-reading-glasses.

And I did. Put on the snob-glasses, I mean. Please keep that in mind when I say:

2011 is The Year of Dystopia. And Divergent is the best ones I've read this year so far.

From the first page--no, paragraph--I was hooked. Roth has created a gripping and fast paced story that keeps you glued to the pages throughout the book. And it helps that her world-building is rock solid and terrifying and brilliant.

Tris is a unique, smart, and compelling character, I loved being inside her head. And she wasn't the only character I loved. Cause, um, FOUR. I loved that character to pieces! I also took on an odd fondness towards Will, more so than the other side characters.

May we please take a moment to point out the romance? It was so great. And I don't mean in the overly-mushy type way, I mean in the enjoyable-without-being-so-over-the-top-it-takes-away-from-the-rest-of-the-plot way. It was realistic while still being smile inducing.

...But that's where the smiles from me end regarding Divergent, really. This is a rough, intense future to bear witness to, but I honestly loved every second of it and would relive it all again in a heartbeat.

Divergent was wonderful. This is a journey that I'm super excited to continue, and super excited to push copies into people hands and force them to read it like a lunatic, and super excited to add it to my Favorites Shelf. Trust me, you cannot afford to miss out on Divergent.

Plot: Spectacular.

Characters: Lovable and smart and just...yes.

Writing: Flows really well.

Ending: O.M.G.

Kid friendly?I'd say so. There are very brief mentions of sex, as well as violence, but that's it.

Overall:

Pink Review+Giveaway

Author: Lili Wilkinson
Release Date: February 8, 2010
Pages: 310 (ARC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher
Challenges: 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Ava has a secret. She is tired of her ultracool attitude, ultra-radical politics, and ultrablack clothing. She's ready to try something new—she's even ready to be someone new. Someone who fits in, someone with a gorgeous boyfriend, someone who wears pink.

Transferring to Billy Hughes School for Academic Excellence is the perfect chance to try on a new identity. But just in case things don't work out, Ava is hiding her new interests from her parents, and especially from her old girlfriend.

Secrets have a way of being hard to keep, though, and Ava finds that changing herself is more complicated than changing her wardrobe. Even getting involved in the school musical raises issues she never imagined. As she faces surprising choices and unforeseen consequences, Ava wonders if she will ever figure out who she really wants to be.

 So. Pink. It was a title I was pretty ashamed to show people, and the cover didn't help. Cause it just looks so...girly, which is very not me. But I don't even care cause...this book. Guys. THIS BOOK.

I spent a lot of this novel wanting to shout at Ava. Cause I mean, she can be preeeetty stupid. But somehow I still really loved her, and wanted nothing more than for our confused heroine to succeed in her mission of self-discovery.

All of the supporting characters were so original and fantastic. I want each member of the stage crew to hop out of Pink and come and criticize my town for it's lack of a good hole-in-the-wall cafe. They were all so fun and real and oh so very lovable. I mean, even the prissy girl has a story!

My friends can tell when I'm really lovin' on a book, cause I'll text them quotes from it that I find to be particularly LOL-worthy. This happened with Pink. It was just so. freaking. funny. Fans of John Green's humor will definitely enjoy the humor in Pink, as well.

I knew I needed to read it when I saw John Green blurbed it, and he didn't steer me wrong one bit. This book is my favorite 2011 debut of the year so far. Lili Wilkinson is sure to become a prominent new voice in American YA, and I for one can't wait to read more of her work. Pink was everything I looked for in a fantastic contemporary novel, so go read it.

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbed me from page one and didn't let go.

Characters: Seriously wonderful!!

Writing: Great!

Ending: It was very fitting and right...even though I might've rather had a "and then they kissed and rode into the sunset on horses" ending...but I still loved it.

Kid friendly? There's talk of sex, teen drinking, and some occasional swearing.

Should I read it? Yesyesyes.

Overall:

 

  

Because I loved this book I'm getting my own hardcover copy of it, so I'm giving away my Advanced Reader Copy of it. US and Canada only, ends May 13. FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER. Good luck!

Shift Review

Author: Jeri Smith Ready
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 380 (E-ARC)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review from Galley Grab
Other titles in series: Shade

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart. 

Shade was one of my favorites of 2010, so it's fair to say that I'd set high expectations for Shift. Expectations that were completely and totally met.

Grief is a huge theme in Shift. Even though Aura can still see Logan and talk to him, he's still gone. Aura's in that place in the cycle of grief that's somewhere between still mourning and moving on. She's confused, but her feelings for Zachary? They're growing. Her emotions are so strong and real it's crazy, and it makes her seem that much more real.

And...well...OK so I can't really say much else without spoiling the book for you. This series continues to be refreshingly original in the midst of a major Unoriginal Paranormal Novels Crisis, and is one of my favorite series. Jeri Smith Ready's world-building is phenomenal, her characters are lovable and realistic, and her twists will completely SHOCK YOU. I didn't Shift's twist coming at all, and was definitely wearing my 0.o and :O faces. This book was sexy, unexpected, and just plain awesome.

Book Report:

Plot: Brilliant and original.

Characters: LOVE THEM. And I want my own Zachary. Anyone wanna make that happen for me?

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Wonderful. But still ready for more.

Kid friendly? Eeeh, well, there's some hot make-out scenes, as well as teen drinking and mentions of sex.

Should I read it? Read Shade first, of course. But for definite. This is a great series!

Overall:

An Abundance of Katherines Review

Author: John Green
Release Date: September 21, 2006
Pages: 272 (PB)
Publisher: Dutton
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Gifted from family


When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy–loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

After reading Looking For Alaska and loooooooooooving it, I needed some more John Green ASAP. And while incredibly different from Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines was an awesome book and definitely satisfied my craving.

This book was the funniest one I've read in a long time. I actually used a piece of scrap paper to write the page numbers of my favorite quotes, because I'm sure I'll want to re-read them...and the entire book...but especially those particular quotes.

A thing I loved about this book was that it wasn't just a funny book. This was a classic and very well-done coming of age story, full of lovable, layered characters and a wonderful moral. I even learned a couple of cool facts that stuck with me after I read it.

Question: how I could find Colin to be whiny and selfish and STILL love his character? He was flawed, but not annoyingly so, and I found him to be an awesome protagonist. Lindsey and Hussan were both fantastic characters as well. Basically, I just want to invite them all over for a pizza party or something.

An Abundance Of Katherines was everything I'd hoped for a then a little extra. I didn't think my John Green love could grow, but I guess I was wrong....

Book Report:

Plot: Fun and well-paced.

Characters: Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo hoo.

Writing: It's John Green. He's an a.m.a.z.i.n.g writer.

Ending: Absolutely perfect.

Kid friendly? Eh, not entirely. There's a sex scene, and a little language.

Should I read it? Yeah, fo sho.

Overall:

A Blue So Dark Review

Author: Holly Schindler
Release Date: May 8, 2010
Pages: 288 (PB)
Publisher: Flux
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: From library

Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.

With an enticingly emotional plot that was beautifully executed, A Blue So Dark hooked me quickly and I stayed up late into the night to see how Aura's story would close.

Throughout the book I felt nothing but pity for Aura; her mom's a schizophrenic, her dad's abandoned her and her mother, and her best friend is too wrapped up in her new baby to help. But her inner voice isn't self-pitying at all, instead it's wonderfully witty and true. And that's why I loved her.

I was really impressed with Schindler's writing when I read Playing Hurt, and I think I was even more impressed with it this time around. I literally found myself re-reading passages, and thinking how great of a Facebook status it would make.

Full of desperation, hope, love, fear, A Blue So Dark was just...awesome. I really loved it. Read it, k?

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbing.

Characters: Loved all of them. And Jeremy was pretty swoon-y.

Writing: GREAT.

Ending: Perfect.

Kid friendly? There's some swearing, and a teen mom.

Should I read it? Fo SHO.

Overall:

Other reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
Steph Su Reads
Opinionated? Me?

Where She Went Review

Author: Gayle Forman
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Pages: 262 (ARC)
Publisher: Dutton
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review ATWT
Other titles in series: If I Stay

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

One of my most anticipated books of 2011 does NOT disappoint. Gayle Forman takes us on a story that is just as gripping, heartbreaking, and fantastic as If I Stay.

As I was reading Where She Went, in the back of my head I was thinking, "How can I possibly write a coherent review for this book? It's too good!!" But I wasn't really worrying about that, because from page one I was immediately sucked into this raw, emotionally gut-wrenching book. The characters are just as real and flawed and wonderful as we remember, and I love them so. much.

Sometimes a book is so freaking amazing that you're torn between writing down all your favorite quotes and just sitting down and devouring it in one sitting. I chose the latter; I read it the day I got it, and when I was finished I stared at the page and willed more words to come, because I just didn't want it to end.

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbing and well-paced.

Characters: Love them. Lovethemlovethemlovethem.

Writing: BRILLIANT. Gayle Forman is one of my favorite authors.

Ending: *stays silent, because I don't want to spoil anything*

Kid friendly? Pretty. There's some swearing, mentions of sex, and smoking.

Should I read it? Read If I Stay first. But if you have then OH MY GOD YES.

Overall:

The Iron Queen Review

Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Pages: 362 (e-galley)

Publisher: Harlequin

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Netgalley
Other titles in series: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

The Iron Queen was the best of the Iron Fey series so far. I swear, Julie Kagawa just gets better and better with each book.

You wanna know how much I love this series and this book and these characters? Well, guys, guess what?

I cried.

I didn't cry at Mockingjay, If I Stay, Linger, or Looking For Alaska. I almost did, and maybe I would've if people weren't interrupting me or shouting, "JESSICA'S TEARING UP OMG!" But I didn't. I've never had tears actually fall out of my eyes because of a book. Or TV show. Or Movie. Or song.

Until now.

And I'm not ashamed. Not in the slightest. Because I love this book and everything about it.

Seriously, absolutely no complaints about The Iron Queen. ...Or the series.* It's such a well-crafted wonderful world, and I cannot wait to return to it in The Iron Knight. Go get this series. Get. It. Now.

P.S. Puck is fan-freaking-tastic. He is one of the sweetest characters ever and definitely the ideal best friend.

P.S.S. Razor reminded me of Elmo. And I love Elmo, so naturally I loved Razor, and I want one.

*Wow do I sound like an overly obsessed fan-girl or what?

Book Report:

Plot: Bloody brilliant.

Characters: I wish they were real. So hard. LOVE THEM.

Writing: Amazing.

Ending: Very bittersweet.

Kid friendly? Pretty. There's very mild swearing, some violence, and a very vague sex scene.

Should I read it? If you've read the first two, and you haven't picked this up yet, then you will kick yourself  hard for waiting so long to read it.

Overall: