Review:

I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and gave it a three star rating. But when I went back and started to think about a review a day or so ago, I wondered why I did that. I couldn't think of a single thing that would make me give it only three stars, so I went and upgraded it to four.

This was a very cute read. The first two chapters will leave anyone will any kind of sense of humor smiling. Dash starts the book with a chapter that can only be described as anti-everything. Dash's growth throughout the book is amazingly realistic and fantastical at the same time. By the end he is a guy I would love to date. Or marry. I liked him that much. He's kind of every nerd school girl's fantasy. *Swoon*

Lily isn't much to snub at either. Her character blooms and expands and becomes so rich throughout the book that it feels like you know her. Her family is hilarious and one of my favorite supporting characters is her brother just because of how funny their relationship as siblings places into the plot.

The plot was what tied this amazing display of character development up with a pretty bow. Though it was a little slow in the middle, it was a realistic slowness. The feelings of Dash and Lily are given time to mature and grow like they would in real life. And though the idea that this red notebook always ended up back in their hands seems a little far fetched, it was cute. So adorable in fact this Christmas themed story is probably one I will want to re-read. :)

--Alexis

Review:

I think I was disappointed by the time I finished this book. I had seen it around for awhile, and was immediately turned off by the cover. I didn't like smoking and it seemed like a "boy book." But when certain people that had recommended books that I had absolutely loved started talking about it again out of the blue, I figured I should give it a read. Though it was a good story, it dragged in places and wasn't the WOW book that I had heard it was.

Let's talk about the characters. Vera is understandably upset and trying to find herself after the loss of Charlie. She thinks she knows everything there is to know about life and her family situation. I think that she was a believable character in many ways, and her growth throughout the book is great, but there were multiple times I just wanted to yell at her through the book and tell her to get a grip. It was frustrating. Maybe I'm just insensitive and mean. I was rooting for her, and thank God near the end she started figuring some things out.

Charlie is probably my favorite character and he was dead. The flashbacks throughout the book help paint a great picture of him and he seems like the kind of guy I would like to get to know; quirky and fun and a little crazy. I just wished he could have been ALIVE in the book.

The plot was mostly centered around Vera finding herself, so to be honest it was kind of slow. Things didn't happen very fast, and when they did I thought the pacing was uneven. There were times things happened I wasn't expecting at all, making me wonder if there should have been a lot more foreshadowing.

The end is what brought the book up to a round 3 stars for me. Though it took a while to get there, Vera eventually made some good choices that equaled to a more satisfying ending then I was expecting. Overall, you should give this book a read if you don't mind a slower plot and a lot of sometimes boring flashbacks; the character development is worth a read.

--Alexis

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind."

Review:

This book is WOW. This book is OMG. This book is everything I wanted all wrapped up in a perfect little package with a shiny bow.

Not that I was expecting anything less from John Green. His books are my favorite books ever. Looking  for Alaska? Brilliant. Paper Towns? Don't get me started. So to say that this book was amazing after all the hype and all the waiting and all the pre-ordering-a-signed-copy-crazyness is pretty spectacular all by it's self.

"Well what did you like about it?" you may ask.

My response would be: "Where do I start?" The story is full and rich and though sometimes predictable (and that's only because I'm fairly good at predicting these things) it's full of humor and truth and everything you could ever want in a plot. Hazel is exactly how I would be if I got cancer; sarcastic and witty and just stupefied with the thought of dying, clinging to the living world in every way she knows how. 

But my favorite character is definitely Gus. He breathes life and joy and quirky beauty in only a way that John Green can write: realistic as hell and humorous enough to crack a rib. I don't want to say much for, for fear of ruining the experience.

For these reasons and many more I will never forget reading The Fault in Our Stars. So the only question is: Why aren't you reading it yet!?

--Alexis

"When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it."


Review: 

As soon as I got the ARC for this one back in November, I knew that I had to read it. So I did, in two days. Yes folks, it was that good. I knew that I would probably like it because I have read some Amanda Hocking in the past; her My Blood Approves series is still my favorite self-pub books I've ever read. That's why I was so happy to learn that she had been picked up by a major publishing company!

I've heard that some people didn't like this book for whatever reason. I don't know why they didn't though! I thought it was great; the pacing, the characters (Wendy is a great heroine. Even though she is sometimes oblivious.) and the hot guy (because what YA paranormal would be complete without one??) The story takes off from the beginning and I never knew what was going to happen next.

There was one time that I felt the book dragged (near the end before the climax) but it was understandable; you can't have a book that is fast paced from beginning to end. Excluding maybe The Hunger Games. The end was probably my favorite part of the book. Can you talk about a cliff-hanger? I hope I get to read the second book in the series long before the publication date too! I don't know if I can deal with the suspense! I'll be interested to see if Amanda Hocking's other book series are also picked up by St. Martin's or another publisher or if this is the only series that she is going to seek major publication for.

Anyway, overall, Switched is the perfect fantasy/romance/adventure if you are in a reading slump or just want an amazingly quick joy-ride. :)

--Alexis