Isla Is Coming Readalong / Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Posted August 11, 2014 / Book Challenges, Book Reviews, Features / 6 Comments

The Isla Is Coming readalong kicked off on the last day of July and I decided to take part! Unlike most people participating, I’m reading the series for the first time. (Click on the picture on the right to read the informational post). I finished Anna and the French Kiss WAY too early and waited to start Lola and the Boy Next Door with the rest of the readers. I finished Lola within 24 hours as well! Of course, the point of the readalong is to gear up for the third book’s release – Isla and the Happily Ever After on the 14th. So now here’s my review for the second book in the Isla Is Coming readalong! Review: As predicted, I loved this book. It was hard not to compare it to Anna and the French Kiss, though… I found myself doing that a lot. I think there were enough similarities and differences to make this book really a great follow-up. Perkins does a wonderful job of bringing variety to a typical YA book/topic. There was somewhat of a love triangle, which I normally don’t care for, but the reader obviously knows how the book is going to end and who she is going to end up with. It always takes the main character a lot longer than the reader to figure out! Lola was very different from Anna, which I liked. She had two dads and a messed-up biological mom, who all worked together to make a pretty interesting family dynamic. It was […]

Musing Mondays #3

Posted August 11, 2014 / Musing Mondays, Weekly Memes / 8 Comments

Instead of the [other] questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then! What is “typical (predictable) young adult” and why do I talk about it so much? I feel like I reference “typical YA” or “predictable YA” in my reviews a lot, so I thought I’d use this Musing Monday to share what that means to me. One of the things I like about most YA, especially the contemporary stuff, is that everything (typically) gets wrapped up for a happy ending. The plot may develop exactly the way you’d predict it would, but you’re still satisfied with the book and the ending. Because honestly – who wants a depressing ending to an otherwise happy book? Here are some characteristics or plot points that I believe inevitably happen in some typical YA books: Girl is single but develops feelings for a boy throughout the course of the book Girl makes a mistake that she lies about and/or keeps hidden from people close to her Mistake is unveiled and everyone is mad she lied/kept it a secret Girl has tension with her best friend(s) that comes to a head – most likely about the mistake she made – somewhere towards the middle-end of the book Girl and guy get together (or almost get together) but then something ruins it. This is normally a misunderstanding, or something regarding the mistake the girl made, or maybe the boy made a mistake Girl and her best friend(s) […]

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 10

Posted August 10, 2014 / Book Challenges, Features / 1 Comment

Favorite Classic Book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger I knew which book I was picking for this one right off the bat. I don’t normally enjoy classics too much, which is one of the reasons I decided not to become an English teacher. For most classics, I appreciated them and what they did for the literary world. I’m just not one to read them for pleasure or really want to sit down with one. Of course, this book is the exception to all rules. It’s a timeless story. Holden Caulfield is one of the most interesting and unique characters I’ve ever encountered. Required reading, people!!

Mid-Year Book Freakout

Posted August 10, 2014 / Book Lists, Features, Other Memes / 0 Comments

Mid-Year Book Freakout: a survey of the books I’ve read so far this year! Originally posted on A Book So Fathomless // Found on The Reading Shelf Best book you’ve read so far in 2014: Aspen by Rebekah Crane I’ve been talking about Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver quite a bit this year, but I think my new favorite is Aspen. I don’t know why, I just found it to be so incredibly funny and perfect in nearly every way. It wasn’t what I expected, but I still enjoyed it very much. Read this one if you’re prepared to laugh out loud and fall in love with every character in the book! (Review) Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2014: Hereafter by Kate Brian It’s no secret that the Shadowlands trilogy by Kate Brian completely knocked my socks off. I read all three books within a 2-3 day period and forced two people I know to immediately start them as well. Hereafter was a really cool second book, but unfortunately the plot is almost 100% a spoiler if you haven’t read the first book yet! (Review for all books) New release you haven’t read yet, but want to: Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke Okay I’ve built this book up so much in my head, I really hope it doesn’t disappoint. I still have a shit-ton of contemporary YA that I’ve been wanting to read since around May, but this is a more recent new release that I can’t stop thinking […]

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 9

Posted August 9, 2014 / Book Challenges, Features / 2 Comments

A Book You Thought You Wouldn’t Like But Ended Up Loving Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill I’m not normally one to read non-fiction, but this book was an option for my book club that I ended up reading. I’ve always been fascinated by cult-like religions and Scientology; I never would have thought to pick up a book about it though. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. I found that I couldn’t stop reading it! I kept waiting and waiting for her to finally realize what was going on and make her escape. It was fascinating to learn about the religion and all of the insane stuff they believe. I’d recommend this one to any person who has been curious about this odd religion and how they trap their followers for life (as best they can).

Review: If I Stay

Posted August 9, 2014 / Book Reviews / 12 Comments

Review: My expectations were too high with this novel. Everyone constantly raves about it and I’ve seen countless 5 star reviews. I’m not sure why, but it just didn’t hit that level for me. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book. I can see why it’s so popular and I’m really glad I read it, but I was expecting to be blown away. This tweet kind of sums up my reaction: I gave 'If I Stay' 3 stars immediately, got off the couch, thought about it and let it really sink in, then bumped it up to 4 stars lol — Lauren (@bookmarklit) August 8, 2014 When I finished the book, I was really surprised. I was like “that was it?” — but that was mostly because there were a million fuckin pages at the end of the book for discussion questions and author questions and other shit. I was totally caught off guard; I thought I had a good 30 pages left to read. In other words, I wasn’t mentally prepared for the book to end. It sounds stupid, but it completely threw me off and made me think “wow I don’t know if I liked this book that much.” After getting off the couch for a few minutes and coming back, I started to let the book sink in (like an ending normally would have). I’m pleased with the way it ended, after a lot of thought. This is definitely the kind of book that resonates with […]

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 8

Posted August 8, 2014 / Book Challenges, Features / 2 Comments

Most Overrated Book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart I’m sorry that I complain about this book so much. I wonder if reading this book instead of listening to the audiobook would have helped me, but I really don’t think so. I genuinely don’t understand what people saw in this book. I liked learning about a rich family and their problems (kind of), but not enough to make up for the rest of this book. No character development, slow-moving plot, and annoying writing style = no go for me. Sorry, folks. I would be interested to hear what you liked about it, if you’re in the majority that did.

Friday Finds #3

Posted August 8, 2014 / Friday Finds, Weekly Memes / 4 Comments

Here are the books I’ve added to my to-read shelf or recently purchased/downloaded to read! Click on the cover for the Goodreads link. Added to Goodreads: Magnolia by Kristi Cook – I’ve seen too many good reviews for this one, even though it doesn’t seem like a book I’d normally read. We’ll see! Not at the top of my list at the moment. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales- Got some positive Goodreads ratings and seems interesting enough. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman – Okay I’ve broken down and added this to my list. It sounds kind of weird, but I can’t stop staring at that beautiful cover! I’ve been wanting to get back into sci-fi / fantasy lately too. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins – This is another one where I’m succumbing to peer pressure. We’ll see. Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young – I think I saw a review for this somewhere. The tagline of “One decision, two paths” is enough for me to say YES to reading this book. Alternate universes created from one decision? Sign me up. Always. Forever. Purchased: How to Love by Katie Cotugno – On sale right now for Kindle! (Thanks, people I follow on Twitter, for constantly alerting me to book sales and spending my entire paycheck).. Upon further investigation, lots of bloggers I follow enjoyed this book. Done deal. Boomerang by Noelle August – This one seems cute and got some good reviews. It’s pretty cheap […]

Review: Since You’ve Been Gone

Posted August 8, 2014 / Book Reviews / 7 Comments

Review: Okay, first let me get out my feelings about audiobooks. I don’t like them. I love the idea of them, but really can’t stand them as I’m listening. They really impact the novel for me. I can’t separate the narrator’s (often annoying) voice from the characters and the story. I want to hear the characters as I hear them in my head, instead of from some actress who thinks she knows what the author intended. I absolutely love being able to “read” while driving or taking a shower or getting ready in the morning. I suffer through audiobooks for that reason alone. I am slowly but surely getting over this aversion, because I find the only way I can “read” two books at once is if they’re in these two different formats. Anyways, in spite of the audiobook, I really enjoyed this one. This has been on my to-read list for a long time. I love the cover and thought the premise sounded really cute. Other bloggers seemed to love this one too, so I decided to use my Audible credit on it. The story follows Emily as she checks of items on the list that Sloane left her. She becomes friends with two people from her school and the girl who works at the pizza shop in the meantime. It was really nice to watch shy Emily come out of her shell and develop her own personality separate from Sloane. As the novel went on, I decided I really […]

30 Day Book Challenge – Day 7

Posted August 7, 2014 / Book Challenges / 5 Comments

Most Underrated Book Class of ’98 by A.L. Player It’s difficult to define “underrated” for me, because that could mean anything. Underrated because I haven’t seen book bloggers talking about it? Underrated because not many people liked it but it’s a really good book? Underrated because it seems like I’m the only one whose read it? I think for this instance I choose the last one. I do tend to follow the crowd when it comes to adding books to my TBR list. Sometimes, I’ll come across a book that it seems no one has read and take a risk on it myself. I chose Class of ’98 by A.L. Player. I’ve referenced it a few times and reviewed it before, but didn’t get any comments from people who have read it. I think this book is underrated in the sense that it’s not widely known or popular. It was a quick read that made me smile. What more can you ask for?