Six Ways to Write a Love Letter by Jackson Pearce [Book Review]

 

Six Ways to Write a Love Letter 

By Jackson Pearce 

 This one is for all of my fellow T. Swift fans! 

I loved pretty much everything about this book! It has everything, rock and roll, celebrity relationships, forced proximity, and the sweetest love story! 

I’m not going to lie and say the references to T. Swift aren’t everywhere. Vivi is fictional… but she is highly Taylor-Esque right down to her cherry red lipstick. I loved her character and I loved the way Jackson Pearce showed the lonely side of celebrity, especially from the view of Vivi’s super celebrity. In fact, my one complaint is that I would have liked to have had alternating chapters with Vivi’s POV as I would have loved to see her world through her eyes. 

This story is told by Remy, our drummer/producer/good guy who goes on tour at last minute and ends up falling for the star. 

The slow build to their relationship felt believable and I was so invested to watching their feelings develop that I couldn’t stop reading. 

This book had no spice, it was closed door, but the relationship was so sweet and well done I loved it anyway. ❤️

If you’re a Swifty, get this book ASAP. If you’re not a Swifty you’ll still love it. 

I recommend this one to anyone who loves the celebrity relationship trope, sweet romances, and Taylor Swift. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! 

The Selection by Keira Cass [Book Review]

The Selection 

by Keira Cass 

338 pages 

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Format: Ebook 

Prepare to be swept into a world of breathless fairy-tale romance, swoonworthy characters, glittering gowns, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who loved Divergent, Delirium, or The Wrath & the Dawn.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.

Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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This is a series is one that has been on my TBR pile seriously for six years. I saw it everywhere in the book world and it had been suggested to me countless times. 

For whatever reason, i avoided reading it and getting invested in the series. At least for me, when there is too much hype I get turned off. However, that being said... I wish I'd read this so much sooner! 

The Selection begins with America Singer (she sings. No, really...) and as ridiculous as her name is, I did come to find myself rooting for America and overlooking these things rather quickly. 

While this book has the typical love triangle and parts of it are a tad bit unbelievable (like Aspen ending up at the castle as well AND you would think Royalty would have better security...) I did enjoy it and find it a very enveloping read.

I love when a book hooks me, and ultimately the "hook" factor is what really sets books apart for me. I was hooked while reading The Selection and proceeded to read the next two in the series within three days.

I loved the "Bachelor-esque" aspect of this book and really enjoyed the relationships created between the contestants. I felt Cass did a wonderful job at highlighting both sides of these relationships, on the one hand they are all each other has -- but they're also competing.

I felt at times like Maxon was a bit too forgiving to America, but this was the only occassion I had issues suspending belief.

I listened to these via Audiobook thanks to my beloved Scribd subscription (Scribd is a total game changer).

While these are not life altering books, I do find them to be very cute and engrossing. Definitely worth a read!

Have you read The Selection series? What did you think? Comment below and let me know! :) 

THE CRUEL PRINCE (The Folk of the Air) by Holly Black [Book Review]

Title:The Cruel Prince

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: January 2018
Paperback: 384

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Source: Scribd 

Format Read: Audio Book

Review: 

I once wrote an entire post regarding how I was just not into fairy's back in 2010. You can find that here. 

Now, in 2019 I can officially say that I enjoyed THE CRUEL PRINCE. I heard so much about this book I had to put aside my preconceived notions regarding Fae tales and give it a chance. Ultimately, I'm happy I did. 

Our main character, Jude lives in an in between world of sorts. She was raised in the real world, our world, and then was taken to the High Court of Faerie and was forced to fit in. Her parents were dead and she had only their killer to see as a father figure. Just that alone would lead to some wicked issues, but add faeries on top of that and you have a story filled with deception paired with disadvantage. 

Things I liked: 

The world building in this novel is masterful. I LOVED the details and the darkness felt palpable even through the page. Holly Black made every minute detail related to the world of Fae. Something as small as a tea cup would be described and bring you further into the world of fae. Acorns abound and I loved it! 

I love Vivi and found her character to be very believable. She was in many ways the most likeable character in the book for me and I am excited to have more of her story in book two. 

I loved the slow build of this novel. The pacing was very well done with a slow reveal and build up that left me needing to continue to discover what was going to happen. 

I enjoyed the twisty family dynamics and the very real relationship they all had. Jude is fully aware she should be upset about her parents and even being in the Court. However, it's all she's ever really known. 

Things I didn't like: 

The first half of the novel felt different than the last half. It felt to some degree like the beginning had one set of goals and the second half had another. There was so much great build up that it kept building and building, but then everything changed. I was still ferociously reading to discover what was going to happen, but it felt... different. 

I did not like the love interest at all. I like bad boys and hate to love storylines. What I do not like is when a person is so incredibly hateful but yet somehow the protagonist likes him anyway. I get that Carden has his own things going on, but he isn't a nice guy. Towards the end I didn't feel that sense of understanding that others seemed to feel. He was still the guy who allowed others to be incredibly mean and cruel so... not a fan. 

I wanted to see more training. There was such a great intrigue subplot where Jude joins other Fae to truly prover herself and I wish we'd seen more of the development for it. I wanted to see what set her apart and made her great. Things were alluded to but we didn't see enough of it. 

Ultimately... 

I enjoyed the Cruel Prince and will be reading The Wicked King when it is released on January 8, 2019! Some of my observations may be due to a lack of reading when it comes to Fae stories, but I did enjoy The Cruel Prince and am eagerly awaiting the next one. 

I'm very hopeful for more understanding from Carden and very excited to delve back into the twisty world of the Fae High Court. 

Ten Years Later... The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Anyone who has followed my blog for some time has more than likely heard my gush about The Truth About Forever on more than one occasion. I read this book at fifteen. I was a sophomore in high school and life felt so... hard.

I'd previously read Just Listen on a whim and at this time my story searching went as far as the bookstore shelves. I read TTAF next and it was the first time I'd ever stayed up all night reading a book. I still remember the awe I felt, closing the pages at five in the morning, school looming in two hours... I was so caught up in the story that I felt as if I was still in a daze.

Now its been twelve years later and life gets so out of control. From high school, to college, and then to working full time things get difficult. Life becomes harder and harder to juggle until you lose yourself and have to remember the things you enjoy.

Reading The Truth About Forever was my way of remembering me, and I hope each of you has a favorite book that draws you back every time.

The Truth About Forever 

By: Sarah Dessen 

Macy’s summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy’s plans don’t anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or … Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn’t fit Macy’s life at all–so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So … happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.

On my third re-read of The Truth About Forever, I stayed up until 3am, with work looming the following morning WHEN I ALREADY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. To me there is no higher praise. 

Macy Queen is completely ordinary, but longing for the ellusive idea of perfection and the badge of approval. 

What I love most about TTAF is the amount of things happening. We have Macy's library day job, the chaos of Wish, the memories of her father, her mother's townhouse development, and each storyline is tied together perfectly. 

Wish catering is my favorite reminder that perfection isn't all it's chalked up to be. I long to work for Wish, to serve meat balls to over eager guests and ride in the Bert-mobile. I love the backdrop of catering to contrast Macy's otherwise search for perfection. While striving to be perfect amongst her mother, her library job, and her complicated relationship with Jason, Wish catering becomes our chaos. 

The slow build between Wes and Macy is one of the sweetest build ups I've ever experienced. Each time I've become swept into it their game of Truth and the development of their story. The relationship they build based on trust, truth and a true understanding of the other person for who they really are. 

The Truth About Forever is every bit as perfect as it was twelve years ago. Upon this re-read I was reminded of my fifteen year old heart, and reintroduced to friends who have always stayed with me, if only on the page. 

Storm Siren by Mary Weber [Book Review]

Title: Storm Siren
Author: Mary Weber
Series: Storm Siren #1
Released: August 19, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher for honest review.

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”
In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.
As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.
Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.
Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.
But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?
Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

I thought this book sounded very interesting based on the synopsis, but when beginning it I did not realize I would become so indebted to Nym's world and her story! I read it relatively quickly, finding myself flipping through pages wanting to see what happened next and I think the beginning really makes that an emotion which many will feel.

From the very first page you are transported to this other world and the story is fascinating.

If I were to compare this book to other fantasies that are out there, I would say it is as if Poison Study, and Graceling had a baby and you added water.  There is a lot of story with this one, and I felt as if there was always more going on.

Nym has been suffering for years with the guilt that she feels as an elemental without control. She has lost control with devastating repercussions and the novel begins with her feeling separated and very much alone. The path that she takes and the progress she makes with herself was what really had me indebted to this novel.  I enjoyed Nym, and I wanted to know about HER story. Elementals in her world are killed at birth, so her very existence puts her in danger. These aspects of the novel really helped push it forward and lead to a well rounded story where the plot made sense.

The villain-ess felt a bit stoic and was not well rounded. I like villains who have depth, and this one just didn't really have it. I'm hoping that in the next installment the villain's are fleshed out a bit more and more about each side can be included.

Also, the romance threw me off quite a bit as I felt like it was a bit forced for the sake of including a romance. I didn't think it was completely out of left field, but I do wish there had been more build up. It did not occur particularly early in the novel so it was not an insta-love situation, but it did in ways appear when I did not expect it.

THAT ENDING THOUGH.

The ending will leave you in distress for a need to know more. I can't really express too much, but any doubts I had about finishing the series went away with that final page. I need to read the next one, and I need to know what happens.

Ultimately, if you're a fan of fantasy and you're looking for a different concept this book should be checked out. I am interested to see where the next installments take Nym!

Map to the Stars by Jen Malone [Book Review]

Title: Map to the Stars
Author: Jen Malone
Format:Ebook
Source: From Publisher for honest review
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Release Date: July 14, 2015
Link: Buy it here. ($1.99!)

Can one down-to-earth girl plus a very famous boy and a whole lot of paparazzi ever add up to a perfect Hollywood ending?Seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton isn't sure why her mom thinks moving to Hollywood will allow them to escape the drama of their small-time life in Georgia, but she's along for the ride. When Annie's mom snags a gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for Annie to accompany her on his European promotional tour, Annie's pretty sure she'll be fangirling over architectural sights rather than teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
But then of course she actually meets him. As Graham and Annie fall for each other in the most romantic cities in the world, Annie realizes that this turn of events may not be quite as glamorous as she thought. Instead of red carpets and celebrity couple names, they are navigating a minefield of keeping secrets from Graham's fans, overprotective assistant, stage "momager," and beefy bodyguard. And when the paparazzi make an appearance, Annie has to decide whether their love is worth the harsh glare of the flashbulb.

This was a very cute, short, light and fun read. Annie Shelton has just moved from Georgia to L.A. and is experiencing the culture shock to end all culture shocks. Suddenly she has been taken from her comfortable home life to this new world where celebrities exist... and they normally get what they want.

Annie has never been the type to get caught up in Pop Culture drama, but she finds herself right in the center and unsure what to do next. Ultimately, this book was cute - I'm not really sure what else needs to be said about it and no other word really sums up the book's premise quite like that one.

It is not overly simple, but there are also no real complex events that occur or plot points which take you by surprise... it's just a very cute book about a girl living out most girl's fantasies.

The fantasy was my favorite part and Graham was at times adorable, and at times a snob that I just wanted to punch in the face. He tended to flip flop, leaning usually towards the better of the two options and ultimately I liked him as a main character and did care about their ending.

There was a wee bit of "insta-love" which occurred, mainly due to the whole celebrity thing. The idea that Graham's attractiveness is off the chart is mentioned multiple times, and ultimately his looks paired with his dorky/adorable personality win Annie over very quickly. Perhaps too quickly.

There was a back story which was revealed slowly during the novel involving why Annie and her mother left Georgia for L.A. and it was an interesting story that wasn't what I expected.

Wynn, the best friend, is another good side character which adds some of the crazy celeb fan that one would expect when reading this type of novel.

The ending was cute, and I thought all the plot points were summed up nicely and topped with a fine little bow. I enjoyed this novel because it was rather simplistic, and it did read like a fantasy turned book reality which is great for anyone who dreamed of falling in love with their favorite celebrity!

Overall: This book is cute. It is perfect for a quick summer read or a day at the beach. It is definitely worth the $1.99 price tag. Be sure to check it out!

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway [Book Review]

Title: Robin & Oliver
Author: Robin Benway
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Received from Publisher for honest review. 
Release Date: June 23, 2015

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?
Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.
She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.
He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?
Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story. 

This was one book that I was very excited for. I have read Robin Benway before and I know that she has talent, but this was incredible. I am so upset that I didn't think of this plot. It is THAT good.

Oliver was taken from his home at a young age and kidnapped by his father. His mother and the people of the town have spent the past decade searching for him and then one day he is there. Emmy has lived her life as the neighbor of the boy who disappeared, and as a result her family had to see first hand the struggle his mother went through.

Emmy spends her time as a victim to an event which she had no control of, because of Oliver's disappearance her freedom was restricted... which though understandable, leads to secrets she is forced to keep from her family.

These two coming together creates a beautiful, beautiful story full of recovery for those who left and those who stayed.

Oliver was a fantastic character, and he had a lot of depth that kept me glued to his story. He is pulled between the father who raised him and the mother he barely knows. His story is heartbreaking because as a young boy his emotions are so torn and his confusion is evident.

Emmy was wonderful, resilient, and strong. She grew up having to see her best friend disappear. His memory and the person he has become is a constant reminder to her and they had moments in this book which made me feel the tears and all of the emotions they shared.

I loved the way it ended, and I would have loved to spend more time with Emmy & Oliver. The friend's depicted in this novel were a nice addition and I loved the relationship that they all shared together as a unit coming back together.

Overall: In short, this book is a great novel about friendship and its resilience, as well as love and learning to trust again. If you're a contemporary fan, don't miss this one.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen [Book Review]

Title: Saint Anything
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN: 0451474708
Release Date: May 5th 
Source: From Publisher for honest review.

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?
Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.
The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans. 

It's no secret that I adore Sarah Dessen. I don't think there is a Sarah Dessen book that I've met that I didn't like. It's gotten to the point where it's just a thing, Sarah Dessen writes something and I love it. It's cause and effect, and it just makes sense. Saint Anything was no different it has cemented this fact in my mind even more.

This title has been labeled as dark for Dessen, and while I understand this comparison, I don't think it can be labeled as "dark" because it isn't... at least not really. This title deals with some tough issues, but I don't think it is any darker than Dreamland or Just Listen. It feels more adult in the handling, but it is still very much a fantastic contemporary YA.

Saint Anything focuses around our heroine, Sydney and the life she lives after her older brother, Peyton, gets sent to prison. Sydney is incredibly relatable, anyone who has ever felt alone will experience some degree of Sydney's emotions. While Sydney attempts to maneuver her way into a new school and new life she is faced with problems that no high schooler should experience, but most do. Sydney feels alone, and that her parents aren't don't understand her, or rather fail to see her at all.

Sydney's story grips you from page one; I loved her world and I wanted to spend more time with her. Sydney's emotions are expressed so wonderfully in this book that I felt as if I was a part of her story, or I had experienced her story before. And maybe to some degree I had. Maybe to some degree we all have.

This book focuses less on the romantic aspect than some of Dessen's other titles, but the romance is still there. I actually appreciated the focus on Sydney's story rather than the focus on Sydney's relationship status. The relationship between Sydney and her family was enthralling and I found it to be pretty powerful.

The new friends Sydney experiences act as a release from her life at home -- something that reminded me a lot of The Truth About Forever and Wish Catering. Just as i enjoyed the people of Wish, the people at Seaside Pizza were pretty great.

This book was very layered, with various themes and focuses, and in the end it was another example of Sarah Dessen's fantastic storytelling skills.

Overall: Saint Anything is wonderful. If you're a fan of Sarah Dessen's previous books or of contemporaries, this book cannot be missed. The ending left me hoping and happy, and in the end that's the most important thing. For anyone who has ever felt alone, this book is for you.

99 Days by Katie Cotugno [Review]

Title: 99 Days
Author: Katie Cotugno
ISBN: 0062216384
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: From Publisher for honest review. (Thanks EW & Harper!)

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.
Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”
Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me. 

When I began this book I did not expect for it to give me the power house of emotions that it granted. I was unsuspecting, I did not think I would become so indebted and so at risk. It looked cute, and I love a fun contemp so I had high hopes, but I was definitely not expecting to be drawn in immediately to the story and be immobilized for hours. I couldn't stop reading. I looked up two hours later to find it was way past my bed time and this book had just controlled my life for a bit.

This is one of those book things that I love to happen and I can tell you that in 99 DAYS you get transported into Molly's life quite instantly.

The introduction of Molly's story comes in small bits, instantly easing you into the larger picture and getting you actively involved as you struggle to discover it all.  You begin with a sea of questions asking: What happened with Molly and Gabe? What is happening with Patrick now? The mom did what?! etc...

This continues until you reach a state of satisfaction having MOST of the story at your disposal, but there are still questions which need to be answered.

The relationships in this book are intense, not in a negative way, but each character has history that goes deep. The writing really displays how close the characters are, the writing style complements it and allows the relationships to flourish and grow. The setting adds to this idea with a small town feel that adds to the close knit feel.

The story is told in chronological order from Day 1-99. This was a really cool way to tell it and it added a nice feeling to the limited time that summer has to offer. Some days had really nothing at all, some went on for pages and pages. I really enjoyed this aspect and it added another dimension for me.

The ending was a little less than stellar - and I only say this because there was so much build up that I felt didn't get entirely placed away. I didn't dislike it, I definitely didn't think it was out of place, and it made sense... but I'm hoping there's a sequel because I would love to spend some more time with Molly, Patirck and Gabe!

Overall: If you love contemporaries that are so good you become lost, this book is for you. This book holds all the elements of a great story, with all those good feelings that make you unable to stop. Don't miss it.

4.5 keys rounded to 5.

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

Title: We All Looked Up
Author: Tommy Wallach
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1481418777

Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.
They always say that high school is the best time of your life.
Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.
Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.

The hardest reviews to write are the ones where you feel in the middle, and for WE ALL LOOKED UP, that's exactly how I feel. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. The book started off strong and then lost it somewhere towards the middle for me.

I wasn't really indebted into the characters very much, and at some point I realized I was reading to find out what happened with the asteroid. I wanted to know the fate of the planet... not really the fate of the characters.

For me, I felt that the characters were kind of too crazy. I couldn't relate to them personally because they seemed so much the opposite of myself that I couldn't put myself in their shoes, and the decisions they made often irritated me more than anything.

I really wanted to love this book because I've heard so many good things, but it ultimately fell kind of flat for me.

I will say that the author's writing was good and I can definitely see where he was going with the decisions that he made, and the character development he portrayed - it was just lost on me personally.

I did enjoy the world building as it represented a society which crumbled in the face of disaster, which is something I feel would actually happen in the face of this kind of disaster.

Ultimately, if you're interested in books where the characters experience extreme transformations in the face of the apocalypse, this book is for you.

Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! 

This week's topic is the Top Ten Books I am eagerly awaiting this Spring. Here is my list, some are on the brink of Summer, but I'm in Tennessee - the seasons blur here so anything is up for grabs, right? 

I'm in the middle of Shadow Scale and so far it is so so good! 

I love the sound of Magonia - it seems so original and great! A ship in the sky makes me envision a scene right out of Neverland, but I'm pretty sure this story has even greater things between the pages. 

The Sin Eater's Daughter is one I am eagerly awaiting for!

 AND LOOK AT ILLUSIONARIUM! I loved the author's first novel, this one has been a long time coming! 

Love in the Big Apple? Count me in for City Love! 

99 Days just seems light, cute and adorable. I am a huge fan of sweet contemporaries and this one promises to hold all of these and more. 

I loved Audrey, Wait so Emmy & Oliver is one I am so, so eager to devour. 

The Cage looks like another original idea which has me immensely intrigued. Human exhibits at a zoo? Bring it on. 

The Rook looks very interesting and with a tagline of "What will be has already been..." it is a definite must read for me! 

I actually just finished The Revenge Playbook last week and must say, it was the perfect contemporary for the Winter time blues. It made Spring feel so close! 

What are you guys waiting for this Spring? 

Rebound by Noelle August [Book Review]

Title: Rebound
Author: Noelle August
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN: 0062331094 
Source: From Publisher for honest review. 

Hooking up is only the beginning of the fun in this sexy and irresistible second installment of the thrilling New Adult series, Boomerang.Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of the heap in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and knocks the tech wunderkind down, throwing his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.
Three years ago, Adam married his high school love—and then lost her in a tragic accident. Now, the heartbreak and guilt he’s tried to bury with work and women begins to take over his life.
Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. She’s got one chance to prove to her father that she deserves a place in his empire by grabbing control of Boomerang and taking Adam down.
But as Alison moves in on him, armed with a cadre of lawyers and accountants, she discovers there’s much more to Adam and Boomerang than meets the eye. Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? It appears so, unless Adam can forgive her for wrecking his life and trying to steal his livelihood. But Alison hopes that old adage is right. Maybe love can conquer all.

I loved the first installment to Noelle August's New Adult series, Boomerang, and this one was no disappointment! You can find my review for the first one here.

This installment focuses on the super attractive owner of Boomerang himself, Adam Blackwood and Ethan's mysterious ex-girlfriend, Allison Quick. Both of these individuals we were able to see slightly in the first installment which made their reintroduction that much more anticipated. I felt like I knew them both before the story even began which really made the story that much more entertaining. This sequel could definitely be read as a stand alone novel so unfamiliarity should not keep you from it! Reading Boomerang first is not a necessity.

When I saw that Adam was going to be the boy in this sequel I was very, very excited. I loved him in the first one and a story with him in the forefront was definitely something I was all in for. Allison; however, I was less sure about. In the first book we are given such a different light of her and I wasn't sure how the two views would reconcile, but luckily by the end I loved Allison, maybe even more than our first heroine, Mia.

Adam and Allison's relationship is a bit different than Mia and Ethan's. Adam and Allison both come from pasts which leave them altered emotionally. This makes their story very emotional, and there were times when I felt the pain they were feeling due to their own backgrounds.

This installment also is driven by missteps and miscommunication between characters which make sometimes hilarious situations. Both main characters are playing their own game, and how those two games coexist is often times entertaining and I was genuinely interested from page one until the end.

I really enjoyed the ending as it is both surprising and expected - which will make sense once the novel has been read. There is a moment of power from female characters that made me fist pump the air and it made other aspects I was less sure of come together and make sense.

Allison Quick is a great heroine because she is honest, she doesn't hide her past or make excuses for actions and the honesty remains from the beginning until the end of the novel.

Adam Blackwood is emotionally complex in ways I did not expect, and this really is showcased in this installment, making him a fantastic male protagonist who gives Allison a run for her money.

All in all, I highly recommend this second installment in the Boomerang trilogy! New Adult is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine and this series really showcases some of the best in that category.

Overall: This book is a great sequel to Boomerang! I loved this second installment as much as the first and am eagerly awaiting Bounce! If you love light feel good reads, this one should be on your list. Don't miss it this Spring!

Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer [Review + Giveaway]

Title: Girl Before a Mirror
Author: Liza Palmer
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: From publisher for honest review.

The author of Conversations with a Fat Girl—optioned for HBO—returns with the hilarious and heartfelt story of a woman who must learn how to be the heroine of her own life-a journey that will teach her priceless lessons about love, friendship, family, work, and her own heart
An account executive in a Mad Men world, Anna Wyatt is at a crossroads. Recently divorced, she’s done a lot of emotional housecleaning, including a self-imposed dating sabbatical. But now that she’s turned forty, she’s struggling to figure out what her life needs. Brainstorming to win over an important new client, she discovers a self-help book—Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero—that offers her unexpected insights and leads her to a most unlikely place: a romance writers’ conference. If she can sign the Romance Cover Model of the Year Pageant winner for her campaign—and meet the author who has inspired her to take control of her life—she’ll win the account. 
For Anna, taking control means taking chances, including getting to know Sasha, her pretty young colleague on the project, and indulging in a steamy elevator ride with Lincoln Mallory, a dashing financial consultant she meets in the hotel. When the conference ends, Anna and Lincoln must decide if their intense connection is strong enough to survive outside the romantic fantasy they’ve created. Yet Lincoln is only one of Anna’s dilemmas. Now that her campaign is off the ground, others in the office want to steal her success, and her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, is spiraling out of control. 
To have the life she wants-to be happy without guilt, to be accepted for herself, to love and to be loved, to just be—she has to put herself first, accept her imperfections, embrace her passions, and finally be the heroine of her own story.

I am a lover of YA, but as a twenty something college student, job dreamer and future haver, I really enjoy delving into women's literary fiction. It is very nice to know that it is okay to not have everything figured out. Even at 40. Life doesn't always work the way we plan it to and I enjoy a friendly reminder that great fiction is fond at every level and GIRL BEFORE A MIRROR really exceeded my expectations.

When I first saw Girl Before a Mirror, I was immediately intrigued because 1.) I have heard many fantastic things a bout the author and 2.) The Ad Agency life is one I have always been interested in. I wanted to see what Anna's life was like and her story instantly interested me on multiple levels as it seemed to be a story of rediscovery.

The first meeting with our heroine is uplifting, her 40th birthday has just taken place and it becomes clear early on that his new beginning is more than just a personal decisions and new awakening of sorts as she begins to view her new place in life. Early on we learn that it is more than a personal decision or enlightenment, but a choice that was not her own. Anna seems to have taken strength from her emotional state and at the opening of the novel is in a place where she wants to "just be." She expresses this early in the novel and it is an idea that is central to Anna's progression and part of what I liked so much about her. She is used to being everything for everyone, but in the end wants to "just be."

What I really loved about this book was the was the humor and the easy writing style Liza Palmer used. Liza Palmer wrote in a conversational way that made me feel as if I was being told a story. It was fun to read, and I enjoyed seeing Anna's world and veing introduced to her world.

I LOVED the use of the romance "How To" book - "Be the Heroine, Find Your Hero"I wish it was a real book because I am highly interested. I do not think This book seemed to give women the power to "just be" and to gain importance and respect from romantic relationships. I am a feminist, and this book really hit home with female empowerment. Anna uses the book to uplift herself.

While some of the secondary characters got on my nerves a bit, I really enjoyed GIRL BEFORE A MIRROR and will definitely be reading Liza Palmer's other novels quickly.

If you enjoy great writing, a true heroine, and a story of a women empowerment, this book is for you! It definitely comes recommended.

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Breakfast at Tiffany's [Book vs. Movie]

Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Book vs. Movie

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a book written by Truman Capote that was made into a movie featuring this lovely lady.

If you haven't seen it, it may be official that you're not an actual human being because it is iconic. Everyone has seen the classic representation of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly... and everyone has seen renditions of it EVERYWHERE.

No. Seriously. 

While it is such an iconic piece of film, the book never gets enough attention. If you haven't seen the movie, go watch it. It's my favorite movie and it took me a good three times before I got it and understood what it was that made me keep coming back. 

Essentially, the movie is about a girl who doesn't have her life together but the focus isn't what you expect. The true aspects of the movie are always hidden, mentioned, and then glossed over like they do not matter. But they do. The things we glance over create who we are. Especially for Holly Golightly. 

In the book, this glancing over of the issues is even more apparent as it is told completely in reflections. Paul tells a story about a girl he once knew... Holly Golightly. And in it understanding of her is never actually established. 

Even her name tells us tons about her character. Holly Golightly, she lives her life moment to moment, and doesn't seem to make any long time plans... other than marrying rich, which the one guy who cares about her is not. 

Holly Golightly is a very fascinating character because of her light attitude. She is practically always positive - and chooses to forget. She has no stability, and that is what she wants. 

Her couch is a bathtub. She keeps her phone in a suit case. She has dreams of a better life, but she is stuck due to her own choices. It never gets better. 

The movie does a great job at portraying Holly as she is, flighty and even some what oblivious to her choices and their effect on her life. 

The book puts Holly through a more distant lens, still the same character, but more distant, and in many ways more dreamlike. The movie makes her visually more real and even slightly more relatable. 

She doesn't want to be controlled. She doesn't want to be caged in. So she continues the cycle, looking for some sort of happiness her self will allow. 

The difference between the book and the movie really boils down to the way it is told and Holly's depiction as a character. In the book, Holly is somewhat stronger and the reader does not feel as much for her character when she makes mistakes because she is distant. 

Maybe it's just Audrey Hepburn, but the movie really displays her in a more relatable light and you root for her. 

This movie is really one of those few times I feel as if something separate was created. The book is great, fantastic even, but it is different. The movie has an entirely different feel to it, and while it does change a few small details, the way the story is told feels more personal. 

While I love both the book and the movie, I feel the movie has more to love about it. This is probably the only time I will ever say anything like this, but Breakfast at Tiffany's was recreated with the movie and through the sensational cast something truly magnificent was created. 

If you haven't seen it, you need to. 

It might just break your heart.