Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Monday, July 14, 2014
New Book News
Here comes the first weekly New Book News for YA Books Beyond the Cover! In this series I just want to spend a few minutes highlighting some books that are coming out soon and why I'm excited for them.
First up for NBN this week:
1. More Than This by Patrick Ness
Synopsis:
Seth drowns, desperate and alone. But then he wakes. Naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. And where is he? The street seems familiar, but everything is abandoned, overgrown, covered in dust. He remembers dying, his skull bashed against the rocks. Has he woken up in his own personal hell? Is there more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife? From the acclaimed author of the Chaos Walking trilogy and A Monster Calls comes one of the most provocative teen novels of our time.
Why I'm Excited:
After reading the summary for this, I immediately knew it would be a book that I would devour. Also, look at this little blurb from Author John Green: "Books are often described as ‘mind-blowing,’ but this is one of the few books in which, while reading it, I have exclaimed aloud, ‘Oh. My. God.’ on multiple occasions. I won’t tell you anything else about it. Just read it." — John Green That little quote by itself is enough to make me want to pick this one up. I also love how the summary doesn't give too much away. It's just enough to get you interested. I haven't read anything else by Patrick Ness, but somehow I'm getting my hands on a copy of this one.
Release Date: 7/22/14
2. OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
Synopsis:
In this “raw and well-crafted (Kirkus Reviews)” romance, Bea learns that some things just can’t be controlled.
When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he’s her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again.
But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can’t stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic…and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she’s obsessed.
Bea tells herself she’s got it all under control. But this isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion. The truth is, she’s breaking down…and she might end up breaking her own heart.
Why I'm Excited:
I'm also on the look out for a good contemp read, and with so many coming out that seem the same, this one sounds like it has a darker vibe. Don't get me wrong, I like fluffy books just like anyone else, but every now and again it's nice to mix things up. The characters in this novel have flaws and like anyone else they have to learn to work their way through them. This read looks real, romantic, and most of all human.
Release Date: 7/22/14
3. One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington
Synopsis:
Sabine isn’t like anyone else. For as long as she can remember, she’s had two lives. Every twenty-four hours she ‘Shifts’, living each day twice. In one life, Sabine has everything: popular friends, expensive clothes, perfect grades, and the guy everyone wants. In the other, Sabine’s family struggles with finances, and she and her friends are considered rebels. But then she meets Ethan. He’s gorgeous, challenging, and he makes her feel like no one ever has before.
All Sabine really wants is the chance to live one life. When it seems like this might finally be possible, Sabine begins a series of dangerous experiments to achieve her goal. But is she willing to risk everything—including the one person who might actually believe her?
Why I'm Excited:
I haven't read very much fantasy/paranormal in awhile, this this one just seems like the kind of book to get me back into the mood for reading them. A hot guy, a cool idea, and an epic story? What's more to want. If you ever wondered what it would be like to live two lives, this ones for you.
Release Date: 7/22/14
Wrap-Up
So that's it for my first New Book News! I'm not sure if anyone else calls their weekly new release list this, so feel free to tell me if the name is already taken. What books are you excited for this week? What do you think of my picks? Let me know in the comments.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Review of The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Ebook
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 320
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about."
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Ebook
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 320
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about."
Review:
I was browsing my library ebook selection when I stumbled across this cute cover and thought that this book would be the perfect distraction from everyday stress. I was right. This book is super cute and I loved pretty much the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't life changing or anything, but it is a great story with characters you can't help but care at least a little about.
The only slight character issue I had was how Caymen sometimes was just a little too oblivious to things going on around her. There were times in this that I just wanted to shake her and be like "no please don't think that about him!". I personally didn't mind all that much because I could tell her actions were just driving the plot, but if you want a really realistic story then this one may not be for you. This book is more like a romantic comedy in book form, complete with dry sarcasm (which I happen to love).
If you want a quick light read I would definitely say to give this one a try. I haven't read anything else by Kasie West but after this I feel like I need to try her other books. Have you read anything by Kasie West?
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Review for Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Title: Stealing Parker
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Ebook
Source: Amazon
Pages In This Edition: 242
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary:
"Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.
Now Parker wants a new life.
So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?
But how far is too far before she loses herself completely"
I was browsing the teen books on my kindle and looking for a book that I wasn't going to break my bank on. As a rule, I try to look for books that are five dollars or under when I decide to go the ebook route. I just can't bring myself to spend more on something that is only a couple bits of memory. I saw this and it looked cute. With a 1.99 price tag, I was sold .
This book was everything I wanted it to. It was romantic, it showed growth in a character, and the writing wasn't boring. If a book can meet those standards, I'm a happy camper.
The story line is great, because just as it starts to slow down, you're given another situation to ponder. I've read a lot of books like this one, and it was really predictable, but in a heart-warming way. A way that didn't have me pounding my head against a wall, an urge that I've had with other books that were sort of like this. I'm only sort of kidding.
The reason I liked it was because of the main character. She actually seemed to think in a logical way before she did things, so I had less of a hankering to punch her for acting stupidly. Throughout the story, she questions her religious roots, but still upholds the moral standards that she knows are right, and I respect her for it. Unlike other stories that unrealistically show the good girl immediately jumping headfirst into romance and sex, they actually show Parker's indecision and thought process.
The guys are hunky too. ;)
Definitely check this one out if you can.
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Ebook
Source: Amazon
Pages In This Edition: 242
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary:
"Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.
Now Parker wants a new life.
So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?
But how far is too far before she loses herself completely"
I was browsing the teen books on my kindle and looking for a book that I wasn't going to break my bank on. As a rule, I try to look for books that are five dollars or under when I decide to go the ebook route. I just can't bring myself to spend more on something that is only a couple bits of memory. I saw this and it looked cute. With a 1.99 price tag, I was sold .
This book was everything I wanted it to. It was romantic, it showed growth in a character, and the writing wasn't boring. If a book can meet those standards, I'm a happy camper.
The story line is great, because just as it starts to slow down, you're given another situation to ponder. I've read a lot of books like this one, and it was really predictable, but in a heart-warming way. A way that didn't have me pounding my head against a wall, an urge that I've had with other books that were sort of like this. I'm only sort of kidding.
The reason I liked it was because of the main character. She actually seemed to think in a logical way before she did things, so I had less of a hankering to punch her for acting stupidly. Throughout the story, she questions her religious roots, but still upholds the moral standards that she knows are right, and I respect her for it. Unlike other stories that unrealistically show the good girl immediately jumping headfirst into romance and sex, they actually show Parker's indecision and thought process.
The guys are hunky too. ;)
Definitely check this one out if you can.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Review of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Format: Hardcover First Edition
Source: Barnes and Noble
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages In This Edition: 375
Rating: 5/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite."
Review:
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Format: Hardcover First Edition
Source: Barnes and Noble
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages In This Edition: 375
Rating: 5/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite."
Review:
I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book. It took me long enough (I didn't get a copy until two months after the release date.) AND I'M SO HAPPY I GOT ONE. This book was the follow-up to my favorite book possibly ever. Delirium was so amazing, I was actually kind of worried that there was no way a sequel could ever compare. I was wrong.
This book was un-put-down-able. It rushed ahead at a break neck pace so that I couldn't help but read it for hours and hours until I was done. I don't want to say too much about the plot since it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil it for the few who haven't managed to read the first book. All I will say is WOW. The beginning, middle, and end all managed to be equally amazing. The end was a shocker though. And a mega cliff-hanger. I can't wait for the last book to come out now!
As always, Oliver manages to develop her characters in a way that most authors can't. Lena is defiantly one of the top five characters that I've read. The way she grew throughout this book was astonishing. Because the story is told in alternating "then" and "now" chapters, the way the voice changes between the two perspectives until they meet in the middle is amazing. I wish I could write like that.
As a second book, the pacing was so fast. For me, the second book in a trilogy is usually the one that is the slowest. Now that the author has you glued to the characters, they must go through some long "journey" type thing before the final book where everything is wrapped up. But Pandemonium is just what the title states it is: pandemonium.
Again I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling, but this book doesn't disappoint. The end (as in the last page) leaves such a cliff-hanger! I want the last book like NOW. So if you've read Delirium and haven't managed to read Pandemonium yet, you must!
--Alexis
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Review of The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (In exchange for an honest review)
Publisher: Henry Holt
Pages In This Edition: 240
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is."
Review:
I would have posted this review on the release date, but I hadn't released it had been moved from its original April release. I got this ARC back in the beginning of February, and read it right away because I simply couldn't wait to pick it up. And that's because April Henry is the kind of author that writes books that scream to be read.
I feel like the mystery genre in YA is kind of lacking. In fact, I don't remember the last time that I read a true crime mystery in YA. I'm not saying that there isn't any around, but not many. And that's exactly what The Night She Disappeared is: a crime mystery. It unfolds like a poisonous flower, and little by little we get to know more about Kayla's kidnapper. Let's just say he isn't the nicest guy around.
The characters in this are amazing. Drew is probably my favorite; he has had really hard time and doesn't try to pretend it hasn't affected him, but he tries to be a good person in spite of what he's been through. He is so muti-layered. It's amazing. And he's gorgeous.
Gabie is going through so much through the course of this novel, I'm not surprised with the emotional conflicts that come up. It's all very believable. She isn't the heroine that shows no fear; she's the one who shows it but still manages to push through it. That makes her even more enviable in my eyes.
As for the plot of the mystery, not much is left to be desired. Henry weaves a great story that I know I will want to read again and again, even if I do now know who the criminal is.
My only complaint (the thing that caused this to be a four star review instead of a five star) is the length of the book. It's just little short for me. I feel like the story could have built up a little more tension before the resolution. Or maybe that's just me wanting more of these characters. Who knows.
--Alexis
Author: April Henry
Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (In exchange for an honest review)
Publisher: Henry Holt
Pages In This Edition: 240
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is."
Review:
I would have posted this review on the release date, but I hadn't released it had been moved from its original April release. I got this ARC back in the beginning of February, and read it right away because I simply couldn't wait to pick it up. And that's because April Henry is the kind of author that writes books that scream to be read.
I feel like the mystery genre in YA is kind of lacking. In fact, I don't remember the last time that I read a true crime mystery in YA. I'm not saying that there isn't any around, but not many. And that's exactly what The Night She Disappeared is: a crime mystery. It unfolds like a poisonous flower, and little by little we get to know more about Kayla's kidnapper. Let's just say he isn't the nicest guy around.
The characters in this are amazing. Drew is probably my favorite; he has had really hard time and doesn't try to pretend it hasn't affected him, but he tries to be a good person in spite of what he's been through. He is so muti-layered. It's amazing. And he's gorgeous.
Gabie is going through so much through the course of this novel, I'm not surprised with the emotional conflicts that come up. It's all very believable. She isn't the heroine that shows no fear; she's the one who shows it but still manages to push through it. That makes her even more enviable in my eyes.
As for the plot of the mystery, not much is left to be desired. Henry weaves a great story that I know I will want to read again and again, even if I do now know who the criminal is.
My only complaint (the thing that caused this to be a four star review instead of a five star) is the length of the book. It's just little short for me. I feel like the story could have built up a little more tension before the resolution. Or maybe that's just me wanting more of these characters. Who knows.
--Alexis
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Review of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Release Date: March 6th, 2012
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (In exchange for an honest reveiw)
Publisher: SourceBooks Fire
Pages In This Edition: 367
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”
Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.
Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.
A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…"
Review:
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Release Date: March 6th, 2012
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (In exchange for an honest reveiw)
Publisher: SourceBooks Fire
Pages In This Edition: 367
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”
Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.
Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.
A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…"
Review:
I saw this book around the blog community and thought "Wow. That looks good. I should put in a request for it." When I did and got sent a copy, I was so excited. And for good reason; this book more than met my expectations. Once I had started it, every moment was just an excuse to go back to reading it, even if I knew I had other things I should have been spending my time on (studying for finals, doing housework, etc..) And that's because Shirvington has created a world that I'm definitely in love with. Head over heels.
The first thing that had me gripped in this book was Lincoln. WOW. Is he hot or what? It's pretty insane, and the chemistry between him and Violet is swoon-worthy. There just something about him that makes you wish you had a carbon copy of him to have as your own. And because one amazingly handsome guy per book wasn't enough, Violet meets Phoenix, a guy who is may be just as hot and amazing as Lincoln. I'm sure some people who read this will be like "Oh great, another YA love triangle. Like I haven't seen that before." But it's alright with me, because seriously, these guys are so great, I would be insulted if I didn't get to spend time with both of them.
And it's not like the romance is the only thing that goes on in the book. The mythology that Shirvington explains is the most explained and interesting of any "angel" book I've read in YA. It is believable and EXPLAINED. It feels like a lot of times authors expect you to know the back-story of their characters without any explanation, but Jessica does a great job of explaining. I really appreciate that. REALLY.
Finally, the plot is something you just can't help but want to flip pages for. It's fast paced and perfectly balanced with great romance. What's not to love? Not much. Except for one scene (I don't want to spoil) that seems to drag a little for my taste. That knocked it down from 5 stars to 4.5. Still, Embrace rocks my socks.
--Alexis
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Review/Giveaway/: Caged Moon by Rachel Deagan
I'm so happy and lucky to be part of the blog tour for Caged Moon! Rachel has been awesome to offer an e-copy of her book to one lucky winner. Obviously, I love this book. So let's get right into the review. :)
Title: Caged Moon
Author: Rachel Deagan
Release Date: January 20th, 2012
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author (In exchange for honest review)
Pages In This Edition: 253
Rating 5/5!!
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Haunted by an animal attack, seventeen year old Charlotte feels she is being followed. When she runs into a mysterious boy while camping, she’s afraid. Nothing seems right about him. Despite trying to stay away, there is an unmistakable draw to be near him. Even his scent smells familiar. But the closer she gets, the faster the secrets begin to unravel. Not only is he not human, he may have a link to her past. When Charlotte finds out someone wants her dead, she is torn between love and fear. Can she trust him to keep her safe?"
Review:
When going in to reading any self-pub book, I always have the same sort of fears. Sometimes self-pub books can be really great, and other times they can...well.. SUCK. Luckily, this was a case of the former.
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I believe this is actually only the second five star review I've given this year, and the first was to The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Yep. It's that good. I almost don't know where to start.
The first time I picked this up the night I got it. I wanted to read a few pages to see if I could get into it. After reading a few chapters, I drifted to sleep. (Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.) I woke up and went to school. Upon arriving home, I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done reading it.
I don't know what I loved more: the characters or the mystery. I guess it's kind of a tie. But let's start with the characters. Charlotte: a girl that's very understandable even when dealing with a problem that no one has dealt with before. Liam: the most drool-worthy-hunk I've read about in a long, long, time. (I want him for myself. Charlotte seriously needs to back off.) Add a cast of extremely entertaining supporting characters plus a mystery and action packed plot that had me turning the pages as fast I could= THE BEST PARANORMAL I'VE READ THIS YEAR. Without a doubt.
By the climax, I was wondering what was true and what wasn't, who I should trust and why I should trust them, and what the hell was going on. I don't want to give too much away, but oh-my-god.
So if you're in the mood for a great paranormal/romance/action/mystery (and who the heck isn't?) then you should read this book. If you read, you should read this book. Now that I'm done with it, do you know what I want? Another adventure with this characters that's what. :)
--Alexis
And now.....It's time for the giveaway! (Who is excited? I know I am. :) ) Thanks to Rachel for the giveaway!
Title: Caged Moon
Author: Rachel Deagan
Release Date: January 20th, 2012
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author (In exchange for honest review)
Pages In This Edition: 253
Rating 5/5!!
On the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Haunted by an animal attack, seventeen year old Charlotte feels she is being followed. When she runs into a mysterious boy while camping, she’s afraid. Nothing seems right about him. Despite trying to stay away, there is an unmistakable draw to be near him. Even his scent smells familiar. But the closer she gets, the faster the secrets begin to unravel. Not only is he not human, he may have a link to her past. When Charlotte finds out someone wants her dead, she is torn between love and fear. Can she trust him to keep her safe?"
Review:
When going in to reading any self-pub book, I always have the same sort of fears. Sometimes self-pub books can be really great, and other times they can...well.. SUCK. Luckily, this was a case of the former.
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I believe this is actually only the second five star review I've given this year, and the first was to The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Yep. It's that good. I almost don't know where to start.
The first time I picked this up the night I got it. I wanted to read a few pages to see if I could get into it. After reading a few chapters, I drifted to sleep. (Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.) I woke up and went to school. Upon arriving home, I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done reading it.
I don't know what I loved more: the characters or the mystery. I guess it's kind of a tie. But let's start with the characters. Charlotte: a girl that's very understandable even when dealing with a problem that no one has dealt with before. Liam: the most drool-worthy-hunk I've read about in a long, long, time. (I want him for myself. Charlotte seriously needs to back off.) Add a cast of extremely entertaining supporting characters plus a mystery and action packed plot that had me turning the pages as fast I could= THE BEST PARANORMAL I'VE READ THIS YEAR. Without a doubt.
By the climax, I was wondering what was true and what wasn't, who I should trust and why I should trust them, and what the hell was going on. I don't want to give too much away, but oh-my-god.
So if you're in the mood for a great paranormal/romance/action/mystery (and who the heck isn't?) then you should read this book. If you read, you should read this book. Now that I'm done with it, do you know what I want? Another adventure with this characters that's what. :)
--Alexis
And now.....It's time for the giveaway! (Who is excited? I know I am. :) ) Thanks to Rachel for the giveaway!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Review of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Title: American Born Chinese
Author(s): Gene Luen Yang
Release Date: September 5th, 2006
Publisher: First Second
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 240
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"A tour-de-force by rising indy comics star Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax. American Born Chinese is a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, the winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, an Eisner Award nominee for Best Coloring and a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year."
Review:
When I picked this up I had no idea what it was about. Misty from The Book Rat had been hosting a graphic novel week, and this was one of her picks for her favorite graphic novels. Usually I love what she recommends, so I thought I would give this a try. Also, since this is a graphic novel, I knew it wouldn't take me long at all to read it.
Within the trip home from the library and about ten minutes at home on the couch, I had finished this book. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting. What I was expecting was a light read with some great art. What I got was a look into what being different meant, and what some people who do to change it, and great art. I can't really same much about the plot, because the whole thing is kind of confusing until near the end. The end itself is something I could never have guessed. It's pretty crazy.
Basically (without trying to spoil anything), American Born Chinese follows three main characters on a quest to find themselves. It's full of funny moments, insightful moments, and great full-color art that had me wishing that I was better artist myself. :( Oh,well.
If you like graphic novels and haven't read this one yet (I can't believe I hadn't considering the fact that it won the Printz award. I LOVE Printz award winners.) then you NEED to pick it up. It's probably the most insightful graphic novel I've ever read.
--Alexis
Author(s): Gene Luen Yang
Release Date: September 5th, 2006
Publisher: First Second
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 240
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"A tour-de-force by rising indy comics star Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax. American Born Chinese is a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, the winner of the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: New, an Eisner Award nominee for Best Coloring and a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year."
Review:
When I picked this up I had no idea what it was about. Misty from The Book Rat had been hosting a graphic novel week, and this was one of her picks for her favorite graphic novels. Usually I love what she recommends, so I thought I would give this a try. Also, since this is a graphic novel, I knew it wouldn't take me long at all to read it.
Within the trip home from the library and about ten minutes at home on the couch, I had finished this book. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting. What I was expecting was a light read with some great art. What I got was a look into what being different meant, and what some people who do to change it, and great art. I can't really same much about the plot, because the whole thing is kind of confusing until near the end. The end itself is something I could never have guessed. It's pretty crazy.
Basically (without trying to spoil anything), American Born Chinese follows three main characters on a quest to find themselves. It's full of funny moments, insightful moments, and great full-color art that had me wishing that I was better artist myself. :( Oh,well.
If you like graphic novels and haven't read this one yet (I can't believe I hadn't considering the fact that it won the Printz award. I LOVE Printz award winners.) then you NEED to pick it up. It's probably the most insightful graphic novel I've ever read.
--Alexis
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Review of The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Title: The Future of Us
Author(s): Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Release Date: November 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 356
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
The whole reason I picked this up was because Jay Asher co-authored. The idea was cool and I personally am a Facebook addict, but Jay was the main pull for me; Thirteen Reasons Why remains one of my favorite books and it one of the only books that I've read over and over again. The Future of Us did not disappoint.
Though I didn't give this book five stars, it's still a great read. Probably closer to 5 than to 4. I couldn't put it down. Even though it's close to 400 pages I read it in one day. Because the chapters alternate between Josh and Emma's perspectives, it kept plugging along at breakneck pace and added great scenes full of character-development and awesome dialogue.
One of the things that Jay Asher does so well is write teens in a true and authentic way. He can see into the mind of a teen in a way that I've only seen a few authors do well; John Green is an example of this. But Carolyn's writing was also great, which made for a novel that was evenly paced and written; something that's hard to do sometimes when co-writing a book. This makes me want to read other books by Mackler. I'll definitely have to check her out in the future.
Also, though the premise hints at the supernatural, this book is contemporary at heart. The "future thing" that's going on is believable, or at least as close to believable as something along those lines can be. You can also tell that the authors did their research. The dialogue when relating to Facebook is always spot on and never awkward.
The only thing that knocked this book down from a five to a four was the ending. It wasn't really a bad ending, just one that was kind of predictable. I wished the ending could have been a little out of the ordinary or maybe a bit more satisfying.
In the end though, it was still a great read that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a comtemp with a cool "new-age" spin. I can't wait to see what Jay Asher is going to do next!
--Alexis
Author(s): Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Release Date: November 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 356
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present."
Review:
Review:
The whole reason I picked this up was because Jay Asher co-authored. The idea was cool and I personally am a Facebook addict, but Jay was the main pull for me; Thirteen Reasons Why remains one of my favorite books and it one of the only books that I've read over and over again. The Future of Us did not disappoint.
Though I didn't give this book five stars, it's still a great read. Probably closer to 5 than to 4. I couldn't put it down. Even though it's close to 400 pages I read it in one day. Because the chapters alternate between Josh and Emma's perspectives, it kept plugging along at breakneck pace and added great scenes full of character-development and awesome dialogue.
One of the things that Jay Asher does so well is write teens in a true and authentic way. He can see into the mind of a teen in a way that I've only seen a few authors do well; John Green is an example of this. But Carolyn's writing was also great, which made for a novel that was evenly paced and written; something that's hard to do sometimes when co-writing a book. This makes me want to read other books by Mackler. I'll definitely have to check her out in the future.
Also, though the premise hints at the supernatural, this book is contemporary at heart. The "future thing" that's going on is believable, or at least as close to believable as something along those lines can be. You can also tell that the authors did their research. The dialogue when relating to Facebook is always spot on and never awkward.
The only thing that knocked this book down from a five to a four was the ending. It wasn't really a bad ending, just one that was kind of predictable. I wished the ending could have been a little out of the ordinary or maybe a bit more satisfying.
In the end though, it was still a great read that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a comtemp with a cool "new-age" spin. I can't wait to see what Jay Asher is going to do next!
--Alexis
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
February TBR
I can't believe that 2012 is already 1/12 of the way done! January was pretty good in books but I'm hoping this month will be even better. I didn't manage to read any books from last months TBR, just 6 books that weren't on that list. (Check THIS out.) That was a fail. I'm going to try to do better this month.
My list for February:
1. A Long, Long, Sleep by Anna Sheeann
2. The Devouring by Simon Holt
3. The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
And that's the main list for this month! I think I have a review book or two that I'll need to squeeze in but this meat and potatoes.
What are you going to be reading this month? Let me know in the comments or leave a link to your TBR list for February.
--Alexis
3. The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
And that's the main list for this month! I think I have a review book or two that I'll need to squeeze in but this meat and potatoes.
What are you going to be reading this month? Let me know in the comments or leave a link to your TBR list for February.
--Alexis
Monday, January 30, 2012
Review of Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Author(s): Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Release Date: October 26th, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 272
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Timesbestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? "
Author(s): Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Release Date: October 26th, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 272
Rating: 4/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Timesbestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? "
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
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
Friday, January 27, 2012
Review of Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Author: A.S. King
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf for Young Readers
Release Date: October 12th, 2010
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 336
Rating: 3/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"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."
Author: A.S. King
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf for Young Readers
Release Date: October 12th, 2010
Source: Library
Pages In This Edition: 336
Rating: 3/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"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."
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
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Review of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Title: The Fault in our Stars
Author: John Green
Format: Hardcover (signed!)
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Pages in this Edition: 313
Rating: 5/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Author: John Green
Format: Hardcover (signed!)
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Pages in this Edition: 313
Rating: 5/5 Stars
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary from Goodreads:
"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
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."
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
Saturday, January 7, 2012
In My Mailbox (18) January 8th, 2012
This week I made a trip to the library, and received a surprise book in the mail. (Who doesn't like that??")
These are the books I got at the library:
1. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
2. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
3. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
And I got this book in the mail:
The Power of Habit (Why We Do What We Do and How to Change It)
--Alexis
Monday, January 2, 2012
Review of Switched by Amanda Hocking
Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Format: ARC
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Pages In This Edition: 293
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary (from Goodreads):
"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:
Author: Amanda Hocking
Format: ARC
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Pages In This Edition: 293
Rating: 4/5
On the Cover:
Beyond the Cover:
Summary (from Goodreads):
"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
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Books of 2011 (And Goals for Next Year!) Wrap-Up
My goal was to read 50 books this year, something I thought I could do because it seems like I read a lot (at least compared to other people I know.) But I just didn't do it. I read 41 books this year. Not too shabby I guess. But next year I plan to really make this goal! I think I may have made it and not known it though, because I only started this blog and started keeping track with goodreads in the middle of the year. I tried to remember all the books I had read but I might have missed a few. So here are all the books I managed to finish: (Not in a particular order. They were at first but as I went back to link reviews, happily I found more!)
1. Evercrossed by Elizabeth Chandler
2. Stolen by Lucy Christopher
3. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
4. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
5. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
6. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
8. Matched by Ally Condie
9. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
11. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
12. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
13. Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick
14. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
15. Take Me There by Carolee Dean
16. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
17. The Mark by Jen Nadol
18. Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson
19. Recovery Road by Blake Nelson
20. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
21. Anya's Ghost by Bera Brosgol
22. Mercury by Hope Larson
23. Americus by M.K. Reed
24. Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gullege
25. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
26. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
27. The Rising Moon by Nlisa Rodriguez
28. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
29. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
30. The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela
31. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
32. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
33. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
34. Switched by Amanda Hocking (Review coming soon!)
35. My Teenage Beating Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin
36. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
37. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
38. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
39. Swoon by Nina Malkin
40. You Are Not Here by Samatha Schutz
41. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
And that's it for me! There are some AMAZING books coming up for 2012, and I can't wait to read them, and hopefully smash my goal of 50 books. 2011 was my first year blogging and I'm happy to say it was a great year. Bloggers as well as readers have been great to me. Thanks to anyone who has followed, read, or commented. You guys rock!
So what did you read this year? What was your favorite book? Did you do an end of the year post? Link it up or tell me in the comments and I'll be happy to check it out. :D
--Alexis
1. Evercrossed by Elizabeth Chandler
2. Stolen by Lucy Christopher
3. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
4. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
5. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
6. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
8. Matched by Ally Condie
9. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
11. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
12. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
13. Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick
14. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
15. Take Me There by Carolee Dean
16. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
17. The Mark by Jen Nadol
18. Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson
19. Recovery Road by Blake Nelson
20. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
21. Anya's Ghost by Bera Brosgol
22. Mercury by Hope Larson
23. Americus by M.K. Reed
24. Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gullege
25. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
26. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
27. The Rising Moon by Nlisa Rodriguez
28. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
29. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
30. The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela
31. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
32. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
33. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
34. Switched by Amanda Hocking (Review coming soon!)
35. My Teenage Beating Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin
36. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
37. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
38. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
39. Swoon by Nina Malkin
40. You Are Not Here by Samatha Schutz
41. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
And that's it for me! There are some AMAZING books coming up for 2012, and I can't wait to read them, and hopefully smash my goal of 50 books. 2011 was my first year blogging and I'm happy to say it was a great year. Bloggers as well as readers have been great to me. Thanks to anyone who has followed, read, or commented. You guys rock!
So what did you read this year? What was your favorite book? Did you do an end of the year post? Link it up or tell me in the comments and I'll be happy to check it out. :D
--Alexis
Monday, December 26, 2011
In My Mailbox (17) The Day After Christmas Edition
Of course In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.This week I got a package full of amazingness, and a Sailor Moon manga that I have already finished. In like an hour. (I'm kind of a Sailor Moon fan-girl.)
I cannot even begin to talk about what's in the package of amazingness; from signed bookmarks to pins and pens and of course the Pledge poster (signed!). It's great. I want to do a little shout out to Ashley @ What's Your Story for hosting the giveaway where I won this from. :) (Please click the link and check her out!)
That's all for me this week. What did you get in your mailbox? Please let me know in the comments or leave a link to your IMM and I'll be sure to check it out.
--Alexis
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
In My Mailbox (16) December 18th, 2011
It was going to be that same way again this week, but to my surprise I did have something in my mailbox! It came about 30 minutes ago, and I was so excited that I had to jump on here and write an IMM!
(Insert drum-roll here.....)
It's Cinder by Marissa Meyer! I was really excited when I found out I got an ARC because I had no clue that they were sending me one. I think those are my favorite books, just because of the sheer excitement I get from ripping open a surprise package and diving right in.
What did you get in your mailbox? Just leave a comment letting me know or a link to your IMM and I'll be sure to check it out. :)
--Alexis
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
100 Follower Giveaway!!
Yep. I'm hosting a follower giveaway. This is pretty amazing, considering I never thought I would actually get enough followers to have one. But I did! So I had to think of what I wanted to giveaway. I decided that I had some good books that I had from recent history that needed a new home. The books are lightly used and I hope you would like to win one.
What are the prizes you ask? I've giveaway away two books (which means two winners!): Echoes by Melinda Metz (which is actually a bind up of three novels) and True Love by Lurlene McDaniel (also a bind-up). (I happen to like bind-ups. And writing phrases in parenthesis apparently.)
I'm using rafflecopter for this giveaway, so please only use a name that you feel comfortable being seen! And please spread the word. :)
US RESIDENTS ONLY (Sorry!)
The widget may take a moment to load.
What are the prizes you ask? I've giveaway away two books (which means two winners!): Echoes by Melinda Metz (which is actually a bind up of three novels) and True Love by Lurlene McDaniel (also a bind-up). (I happen to like bind-ups. And writing phrases in parenthesis apparently.)
I'm using rafflecopter for this giveaway, so please only use a name that you feel comfortable being seen! And please spread the word. :)
US RESIDENTS ONLY (Sorry!)
The widget may take a moment to load.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Waiting on Wednesday (4)
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, where bloggers talk about highly anticipated titles.
This week I wanted to talk about a book that I want. I mean WANT. Like IF I DON'T READ THIS SOON I MIGHT DIE. Not to be overly dramatic of course.
"Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite."
This week I wanted to talk about a book that I want. I mean WANT. Like IF I DON'T READ THIS SOON I MIGHT DIE. Not to be overly dramatic of course.
"Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite."
I didn't want to post a full synopsis because this is a sequel. But even with that little bit, don't you want to go out and read it right now? I know I do! Delirium is one of my favorite books, well, ever.
What are you waiting for this Wednesday?
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About Me
- Alexis Ladig
- Hi I'm Alexis and I love sharing my love of reading and writing with the world.This blog is an outlet for me to express myself and my opinions, and show other bookish people some awesome things to explore in the world of literature!
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