{REVIEW} Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Jesse's Girl
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks
Book: 6
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: ★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Practice Makes Perfect.

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.


But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

My Reaction/Thoughts:

The only reason I decided to pick this book up was because of the title. Yes, Jesse's Girl like the song. Plus it sounded really cute. Each chapter was titled after a popular song as well so I thought that was really clever. However, I never read a book in the Hundred Oaks series before and I was a little hesitant, but being the rebel that I am...why not?

I really enjoyed the plot even though it was really simple. I liked that we saw Jesse and Maya's friendship/relationship grow. It was cute, but steady and based upon their connection to music and feeling like an outcast. It wasn't just purely on attraction or instalove— which I hate!But, it was entertaining and had its adorable moments. However, on the other hand I did feel like it was a little flat. I didn't get very much out of it. I just watched these two characters fall in love and both give the other the confidence he/she needed to go after their dreams. Unfortunately, that's all that it was. There was no big conflict or climax. I felt like the high point of this book was "Will They Or Won't They? and once they became a couple, that was it. It plateaued. I still enjoyed it, but I wanted more. I expected more.

In addition, the characters were  a little typical. There was nothing special about them. Nothing I really took away from the story that makes me satisfied with the story. I didn't connect to the characters too much like I'd like and that bums me out a bit. Maybe I just needed to read more from Kenneally or the Hundred Oaks series to really connect so I take the blame for that one.

Overall, it was still an entertaining book and it was what I needed to read after all the fantasy books I've been reading. Cute, sweet, and fun.

Side Note: At the end of the book the author provides a playlist labeled "Jesse's Playlist" with a bunch of 80s songs and whatnot. Many of these songs were from bands that Maya and Jesse enjoyed and talked about in the book, but what I find ironic is how there is not one single Queen song. Maya named her Twitter handle QueenQueen after her love for Queen! She sings Queen during multiple audtions/performances and there is not one Queen song on this so called "playlist"? That's weird.


I'll leave you with this to get stuck in your head (:

Happy reading!

{REVIEW} Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Title: Emerald Green

Author: Kerstin Gier

Series: Precious Stone Trilogy

Book: 3
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance 

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along. Emerald Green is the stunning conclusion to Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy, picking up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate. 

My Reaction/Thoughts: 

Oh this was just as much fun!! I had a lot of fun reading this series and I can't believe it's over already! This book was filled with even more fun time traveling and fancy dresses and mysteries. I am so glad we finally got some answers though because the suspense was killing me! Though it was a tad predictable because all my theories were correct. However! I'm so glad there was a twist that I did not see coming concerning the count! I found the whole storyline with him to be so interesting, though a bit confusing at times because I don't quite understand all the scientific principles that go into time travel. But nevertheless, I had fun! 

The plot really pulled through with this installment. There were twists and turn and a much more satisfying climax then the previous two novels. We got a lot of answers to those prophesies that seemed rather simple if you ask me so I really don't know how Gwen and company really didn't put two and two together sooner. However, the "magic of the raven" was surprising and I was shocked to learn of what Lucy and Paul had planned for Gideon. IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY! I love happy endings! 

I am beyond excited that Gideon finally admitted his feelings for Gwen and we were able to see some cute scenes with Gwen and Gideon. I was so frustrated the first 100 pages or so that Gwen was avoiding Gideon like the plague because she was so hurt! But it's okay because we got a whole lot of cute! I am more than satisfied!! 

Gwen stayed the silly, snarky girl that I loved since Ruby Red and I am glad of it. I am glad that she was a little sassy and didn't back down to anyone. I enjoyed her more in the book and Lesley as well. I loved seeing how many people cared about Gwen and wanted to help her. Even Xemerius was looking out for her best interests and wanted to stay by her side when she was scared. He was still the cute little riot that I love. I enjoyed his snarky comments and how much he looked after Gwen. I especially loved how Mr. Bernard helped Gwen out and worked to keep Charlotte from snooping around Gwen's room. (Now we know why after that prologue!)

Speaking of the prologue...OMG! I LOVED IT! It is so touching to see Lucy and Paul get their happily ever after and their relationship with Gwen grow! *happy sighs*

The philosopher's stone just reminded me so much of Harry Potter so I knew right away that the evil count just wanted to make himself immortal. I wondered if why only Gwen had a prophesy that was spoken of and not the other travellers? Were they not as important? Was their only role to provide their blood to the chronograph? It would have been nice to get to know a little bit about them as well, but that's just me being greedy I guess.  I do wish these book were a bit longer so that I could have learned more, but alas I'll take what I am given. 

I recommend this series over and over. It's so easy to read and such a fun time. I do admit I got a little confused here and there, but I just went with the flow and everything made sense in due time. It's worth the read.

Happy reading!

{REVIEW} P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Title: P.S. I Still Love You
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Book: 2
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

My Reaction/Thoughts:

“People come in and out of your life. For a time they are your world; they are everything. And then one day they’re not. There’s no telling how long you will have them near.” 

This book was so wonderful! It was everything I hoped it would be. Well it was seriously lacking some more Peter K, but I will forgive you, Jenny Han, because that ending seriously gave me so many feels that I just can't...

“So I take Peter’s hand; I put it on my heart. I tell him, “You have to take good care of this, because it’s yours.” 

I can't explain enough how much I seriously love this series. It paints such a vivid picture deep first love, betrayal, heartbreak, and daring to love again. I absolutely love it!

“I know now that I don’t want to love or be loved in half measures. I want it all, and to have it all, you have to risk it all.”

  I adore Lara Jean and Peter and Kitty and John even made me love him! I do admit I missed Josh, but I understand why he was missing. I think this book needed way more Peter and Lara Jean because I am greedy and needy so I can't say that I enjoyed this more than the first book, but I did enjoy the ride. I loved all our new characters and the new romance that John brought — even though he was seriously blowing holes in my ship. But my favorite part of this book was definitely Lara Jean. I know many people are bothered by her because she is a classic sixteen year old girl worrying about the most mundane things and is naive, but what sixteen girl isn't? I know I was. I know I worried about the dumbest things and wouldn't get over it until they just ate me alive. But that's what I loved about her. She realized what was important in the end and was mature. She such a classic girly girl too. This girl would curl her hair when she was upset so she could think and I loved that. I did silly things like this when I was younger too. I could just relate to her so much and I felt a little nostalgic reading from her. She showed a nice dose of character development. She didn't fuss over things too long with Peter and was able to move on so they could enjoy being together and I think their relationship was great. Although it really bothered me that he spent so much time with Gen. I mean really he was with her more than he was with LJ! I WANT MORE PK AND LJ FEELS! And then we just see them start to fight more and more and then the break up! UGH!!!! 

Then Jenny Han brings in the lost letter from the first book and John Ambrose McClaren...

Oh John, he was quite a sweetie pie and I'd be lying if I didn't say I had to root for him a little bit, but my heart belongs to Peter Kavinsky, Sorry, Johnny. 

However, who didn't swwon when we saw him in that uniform driving that red convertible? 

John was just so sweet to Lara too. I loved their effortless chemistry and the way they just seemed to understand each other. It just wasn't the right time — which makes it more realistic. 

I think I laughed so hard at all the wonderful scenes with Stormy. That woman was a riot! And kudos for Miss Han for bringing in the feminist debate, LOL.

“I had no idea you were such a feminist,” I say. 

“Feminist?” Stormy makes a disgusted sound in her throat. “I’m no feminist. Really, Lara Jean!” 

“Stormy, don’t get worked up about it. All it means is that you believe men and women are equal, and should have equal rights.” 

“I don’t think any man is my equal. Women are far superior, and don’t you forget it. Don’t forget any of the things I just told you.” 

All in all, I loved this book. I loved it so much and I can't believe I finished it in a day. I hated that we didn't get to see more of Peter and LJ and that she spent more time away from him than with him, but that ending more than made up for it. That ending was everything! That ending is why I couldn't bring myself to give it anything less than five stars. 

I am just going to swim around in my feels now. 

{REVIEW} I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Title: I'll Meet You There
Author: Heather Demetrios
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.


Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

My Rating/Thoughts:

Let me first start off by saying how wonderful Heather Demetrios is for giving us this wonderful story about a Marine. Not many authors have dived into this type of story and I absolutely loved Demetrios for taking the punch. I think I love her more for it after reading the author's note about how dear this book was to her and about her dad and brother. Seriously, this will be forever a new favorite of mine because it reminds me of my own grandfather who served and suffered from PTSD.

So without further adieu, let's talk about these characters. Demetrios paints such a vivid and wonderful story about this girl named Skylar who lives in a "blink town" (blink-and-you'll-miss-it) who is desperately trying to get out. She works at the Paradise motel trying to make enough money to go to college and take care of her alcholic mother who just lost her job. I enjoyed reading about Skylar because she was straightedge and this was the first book I have ever read that even mentioned the lifestyle and I loved it! Skylar goes through so many problems and it's just heartbreaking because she tries so hard to make a better life. She takes on so many responsibilities and burdens. She deserves more than she's been handed and the fact that she can still laugh and smile is truly inspiring. She learns to love Josh even through his setbacks and closed-doors attitude. I was rooting for her the whole book and was so heartbroken when she wasn't going to decide to go to school. This girls deserves all her dreams to come true!

Now Josh. Let's talk about this wonderful man named Josh Mitchell. Whew! This man is amazing. He is so strong for continuing to fight his battles. I was so worried that he would let his demons win because he was so consumed by guilt over what happened in Afghanistan and losing his unit and leg that I really thought he just wouldn't be able to see that he deserved better. This was his second chance at life. We see how much pain he is facing over losing his buddy Nick and how much he blames himself. We see his struggle over losing his leg and the "phantom pain" and PTSD when little triggers send him back, as well as his attempt to go back living in society. Seeing his struggle and fight to overcome these battles was truly amazing to read. Because you can't do anything but want him to overcome his pain. You hear about so many guys who suffer the same effects from war who end their lives because they see no better way. I think this is why it's so important and inspiring for Demetrios to give us this type of character. I can't even begin to explain how overjoyed I am that Josh got everything he deserved. He got peace, happiness and the girl! (:

I can't recommend this book enough. I'd rate it SIX STARS if I could! It was just that wonderful that I devoured this beauty in a day!

{REVIEW} Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Title: Hopeless
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless
Book: 1
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.


Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“Not everyone gets a happily every after. Life is real and sometimes it's ugly and you just have to learn how to cope.” 

This is my second Colleen Hoover book and I am speechless! Her writing is so perfect and beautiful that I can never seem to set my book down. The way she captivates not only your attention, but your heart. You fall in love with both the characters and the story they hold. I bow down to you Colleen Hoover!

“And while I could sit here and feel sorry for myself, wondering why all of this happened to me..I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to wish for a perfect life. The things that knock you down in life are tests, forcing you to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground or wiping the dirt off and standing up even taller than you did before you were knocked down. I'm choosing to stand taller. I'll probably get kicked down a few more times before this life is through with me, but I can guarantee you I'll never stay on the ground.” 

Sky had a great story that I couldn't help but fall in love with. It was touching, heartbreaking, and breathtaking. Sky was such a strong character that I, too, was so proud of her for the choices she's made. I thought she was fantastic and I loved her for it.

“I can already tell he isn't the kind of guy a girl gets a simple crush on. He's the kind of guy you fall hard for."

But Dean Holder? Dean Holder. He is definitely top 5 Book Boyfriends. He is so complex, passionate, protective, supportive, loving, kind, funny, and a million other things that made me love him more and more. Every single thing he did that made Sky give a piece of her heart to him also made me give a piece of my heart to him as well. I loved the connection he had with Sky and the way he was so passionate about everything he did. He feels everything in every fiber of his being. He can't feel anything only slightly, he feels so greatly and it makes him fantastic. I cannot wait to read Losing Hope so I can drive into his thoughts and feelings!

“I'm not a sucker for happily ever afters, but if these two characters don't get theirs I might climb inside this e-reader and lock them both inside that damn garage forever.” 
(Me too, Sky. Me too.)

This book was definitely  heartbreaking and had me crying for much of it, but it was also such a touching story. I recommend!

{REVIEW} Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

Title: Whatever Life Throws at You
Author: Julie Cross
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas's life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…

My Rating/Thoughts:

Forbidden romance. Baseball. A hot pitcher. What's not to love? I was completely intrigued while reading the whole novel. And I also really enjoyed that this book was centered around baseball and the chapter headings were just adorable with the close up photo of a baseball. As well as the different division pages with "spring training" or "opening day" etc. indicating where in the season we are. I don't know what it is about baseball and pitchers but this is the second book and pitcher that I fell in love with (*sigh* Ryan Stone anyone?). I just didn't want it to end. I loved all the characters and the secondary characters as well. Again, another great book that has a great father-daughter relationship, it was so touching. Can I get a sequel please?

What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't really an instalove story either. I mean Annie and Brody are into each other, but you don't really know that and Brody felt the same way. We see their relationship grow from friends first and how much they begin to trust each other and feel like they are the only person who understands the other. I couldn't say how much I fell in love with Brody the second he came clean to Annie about his "fake relationships" with the girls for publicity and how she needs to trust him because he will be the first to tell her everything. Their relationship was just so good. It progressed wonderfully and I really respected how they communicated about important stuff. Plus, can it be anymore passionate? *swoon*

This book was filled with a nice amount of humor, had some great themes, characters, relationships, sports, heartbreak, tough decisions, and just a great story. I am so glad I picked this book up. I never read anything by Julie Cross before but I had a giftcard for Barnes & Noble that I got for Christmas and just saw it and picked it up because hey, I like baseball and hot guys, so why not? And I am just so glad I did. Another new book to add to my favorite contemporaries.

Would I recommend? Yes.

{REVIEW} My True Love Gave to Me Edited by Stephanie Perkins

Title: My True Love Gave to Me
Author: Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de la Pena, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, Kierstan White
Editor: Stephanie Perkins
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ...This beautiful collection features twelve gorgeously romantic stories set during the festive period, by some of the most talented and exciting YA authors writing today. The stories are filled with the magic of first love and the magic of the holidays.

My Rating/Thoughts:

I loved this book so much. It was exactly what I was wanting and I had so much fun reading it. The stories were cute and cheesy and made me smile. Only thing that bothered me were some of the stories did actually disappoint me and I felt like they just didn't belong, but I still love this book so I will have to read this every Christmas!

Without further adieu, let's get started!

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell: ★★★★★

“I need you to be my person. I need to see you. And hear you. I need you to stay alive. And I need you to stop kissing other people just because they're standing next to you when the ball drops.” 

I LOVED THIS STORY SO SO SO MUCH! This was so cute and I loved the way it was written and the romance was perfect. I loved that they were best friends for years and that friendship turned into love. Now I know why this was such a fan favorite and like many others, I WANT A WHOLE NOVEL!

“You're a kaleidoscope. You change every time I look away.” 

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link: ★

"She knows, every part of her knows, that she wants to kiss him. That he wants to kiss her. All of her skin prickles with longing. Her insides fizz."

This story was so weird. I just did not like it at all  and I found myself just skimming through it because I was so confused. The romance just felt so awkward and unbelievable.

Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena: ★★★

“The feeling it gave me was an odd combination of weightless self-pity and excitement. I understood my life was meaningless, and this knowledge freed me up to accomplish absolutely anything.” 

I really liked this story a lot. I felt that it was a little more believable and the romance felt a little unrealistic, but I could totally see this being a little cheesy Holiday ABC family movie. I really liked it. I liked that the characters got to know each other and spent time together. It was a little rushed, but hey it's a short story so what do you expect?

Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han: ★★★1/2

This story was entirely way too short. I wanted more! Way more. Just when I settled into the story it was over! But I still enjoyed it. I think it should have been longer because it ended so abruptly and it was a little unclear where the story was supposed to go. I had no idea how to even imagine my own ending because I just don't know the direction!

It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins: ★★★★★

“Shame leads to secrets, and secrets lead to lies, and lies ruin everything.” 

Stephanie Perkins is perfect and everything she writes is perfect too. This story is definitely in my top 2. I loved everything about it. I loved Marigold. I loved North. Where can I get a North? I loved the story and how it flowed. The only thing that I had a problem with is that it ended ): I wanted to know what her mom thought of the Charlie Brown tree and the apartment! I want to know what happens to Marigold and North! Sigh I just loved it.

"The rareness, the specialness, of North. Of this night. She wished it could last forever." 
So did I.

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan: ★★

 "He says presents aren't important, but I think they are- not because of how much they cost, but for the opportunity they provide to say 'I understand you.” 

This was so depressing. The main character spends the whole story talking about how he doesn't belong. We learn that his boyfriend's family doesn't even know about him and so when he comes in and plays this Santa so that Connor's little sister will still believe in Santa, he is struck by how much he doesn't belong. What a little downer. I just didn't like this story at all. It was weird that this is supposed to be a "romance" where we didn't even see the romance at all.

“I am here, and he is here, and everything I need to know is that I will hold him and he will hold me until I am warm again, until I know I belong." See? No.

Krampuslauf by Holly Black: ★★

“Sometimes I felt like I was waiting for my life to begin and more than anything, in that moment, I wanted to force some kind of beginning. I wanted things to be different than usual. I wanted to bend reality.” 

Another really weird story. I just didn't connect to it at all. This was just too out there for me. I kind of didn't like how the whole story surrounded her friend's secret relationship with her boyfriend and trying to expose him as a liar.

What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? By Gayle Forman: ★★★★1/2

Now this one was actually pretty cute. I really liked the humor and the way the story progressed. I just really liked it because it was a short cute love story around likable characters that ended up really understanding each other.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire: ★★★★

I really enjoyed reading this story as well. I liked that it took place over the duration of a Christmas pageant for the church and it was more believable for our characters to fall into "love" when they already knew each other and had some feelings. It makes everything so much more cute. I enjoyed the flirting and the understanding. We see some character development and it's just a really nice read.

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White: ★★★★★

“Christmas Eve is my favorite... I think the anticipation is more fun than anything else. I kind of lost that. The idea that something - food, traditions, an arbitrary date on the calendar - can be special because we decide it should be. We make it special. Not just for ourselves, but for others.”

I loved everything about this story! I think this is another one of my favorites because it was absolutely perfect! It literally brought tears to my eyes. It was believable realistic, cute, and heartwarming. I liked the voice and her sense of humor.

“The door opens with a rusted jingle, and an animatronic Santa insults my moral virtue three times. Ho, ho, ho.” 

 I loved the relationships between Maria (I think her name was Maria, I already don't remember lol) and Ben. Maria spends this whole time thinking that she has no future and wants so badly to get away, but her mother and boyfriend have actually been looking out for her the whole time. I cried. I cried when he learned Spanish so that he could connect to Maria and her mother. I loved how Ben was constantly trying to make food to make other people happy. I loved everything. It was just so sweet and cute. Ben brought some holiday cheer and brightness to the vision Maria had of her home. Such a great story. I want to read more books by Kiersten White now.

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter: ★★★★

“I sang because that is what I do when I am happy and when I'm sad. I sang because it is who I am when I am being the best possible version of me.” 

This had a nice amount of suspense to it that had me glued! I had so many questions! Who is Hulda and why doesn't she want to go meet Ethan? What happened? Who was our main character? Why was she running? I am glad at least a couple of them were answered but I still had so many! I thought it was so touching that even though Ethan's family were onto her that she wasn't really Hulda, they still accepted her into their family and wanted her to stay. I could have cried when Aunt Mary asked Liddy to stay with her. It was exactly what she needed. The both of them.

I could see this being a TV movie as well. Actually I'd loved that.

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: ★

Sigh. I wanted to like this story, I really did, but I just couldn't. It was a little too much like Daughter of Smoke & Bone to me. Spear was just like Thiago in wanting and expecting Neve to marry him, even against her will. And Dreamer just sounded like a chimaera to me. I don't know. This just wasn't a "winter romance" at all. It was a little too awkward. I mean there is nothing wrong with fantasy, but I just wanted something different. We are supposed to believe that Neve really fell in "love" with Dreamer when she never even met him and was only receiving gifts from him on her porch? So much was going on also that I was just a little confused and it made it hard to follow because I ended up not caring. Which is sad because I am currently trying to read Days of Blood & Starlight by Taylor and thought that this story would be great, but it just felt like I was almost reading the same thing with different names and setting.

{REVIEW} Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits
Book: 2
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

My Rating/Thoughts:

"I dare you to kiss me."

I LOVED THIS BOOK! And I am quite surprised I loved it a little bit more than Pushing the Limits because I could not stand Beth at all in PTL. She was irritating, immature, selfish and just a real witch to Echo that I could not stand her. I didn't care that she got her own book and didn't even want to read it. But I decided to pick it up because I wanted to see what happened with her and Isaiah (since I loved him so much) and I am so glad I did! I was so hooked and wouldn't go to sleep until I read a couple chapters every night. This story was more touching because Beth had so many walls up and Ryan worked so hard to break them down. I loved their relationship so much. It wasn't so much instalove. There was insta-attaction, but it wasn't love. At least not in my eyes. Love was worked for, trust was worked for and earned. I really enjoyed the dark aspects that this novel had because it shows the ugly side of families, the addictions, the lying, the false facades. It has so much more raw emotion that I just couldn't turn away.

“Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This girl is mine.” 

I think what I loved most about this book was Ryan. He was such a lovable character that I just want to squeeze him and keep him for myself. He's funny, dedicated, loyal, protective, motivated, and loves challenges. He is constantly challenging himself and he hates losing. Once he sets his mind on something he will  not stop until he accomplishes it. He makes some pretty hard decisions and he just does what he thinks is right. He goes against what his father wants even though it's hard. He changes his "plans" and pushes for his own dreams.  He pushes Beth and he broke down her many walls and got her to trust him. I nearly cried when she finally told him that she trusted him. It was so touching and I got so teary eyed when he was teaching her how to swim, the first sign of trust.

“I don't lose. Do you hear me? I don't lose and that includes losing you. I'm done being kept in the dark. Im done feeling like you're slipping right past me. You are not saying goodbye to me. I'm in love with you and you love me back. You are staying.” 

Ryan is just amazing. I love him. (I'm sorry Noah, You're still bae though).

“Emotions is evil. People who make me feel are worse. I take comfort in the stone inside of me. If I don't feel, I don't hurt.” 

Beth was a complex character and I did end up really enjoying, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that she irritated me for 50% of the book. She got under my skin in PTL and that carried into this novel as well. To me, she was just so stubborn and childish! I hated that anytime someone said something she didn't want to hear she would quickly just say "*eff* you!" This got so old, so fast and I was praying for some hardcore character development. And thank God we got it! Beth changed and made a new, promising life for herself at her uncle's. (Sidenote: how adorable was Scott and his love for Beth? He took care of her when she was a small child and loved her like she was his own. This was so touching and I loved every minute of it!) And I also couldn't stand the way Beth would tell Ryan or even Isaiah that they didn't love her. Now I understand this was her own issue and she doesn't believe she is worthy of love. Especially from Ryan because he is this perfect golden boy with the perfect life and "guys like him don't fall for girls like her" but don't you dare try to diminish his love or act like its nonexistant! Don't tell him how he is feeling or what he does feel isn't real! Same goes for Isaiah. Yes he may not look at you the way Noah looks at Echo, but to him, she was everything to him and he did love her. Maybe it was the great love, but it was love and it's all he's known and let him find out his own feelings without Beth trying to shove it in his face and rejecting him that his love isn't real. That's the only thing that really bothered me. Other than that, I enjoyed her a lot more. She had some dark demons she had to battle and she had to learn to trust and love herself. I really enjoyed reading her story.

“How many more of us are faking the facade? How many more of us are pretending to be something we're not? Even better, how many of us will have the courage to be ourselves regardless of what others think?” 

Like PTL, I was so impatient with the plot twist. In PTL, Echo is trying to find out what happened "that night" through the whole book and we don't find out until the very end. I get why, but my impatience can't take it! This was the same thing! What is in that room?! What happened?! Why did Beth's dad leave and blame her?! UGH!!!! But I am glad for the results, it was way more messed up than I would have imagined. I just loved this book so much. The characters are great, the guys are so lovable, the friendships, the family, the tough decisions, standing against family to do the right thing. I loved all of it!

“That must be love: when everything else in the world could implode and you wouldn't care as long as you had that one person standing beside you.” 

Would I recommend? Yes!

November Wrap Up

So November I was obviously in my slump, but I am still impressed with  myself. Battling a slump is rough, but I still managed to read 7 books! Go me! I hope December brings me just better reading times because work is making me lazy! Oops. 

So this month I have read:

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (reread before the movie)
2. My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
3. The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 
4. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han  
5. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (ebook, not pictured)
6. The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger 
7. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

What books have you read this month? Have you read any of these? What did you think? (:

{REVIEW} Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits
Book: 1
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

So wrong for each other …and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.


Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“Because growing up means making tough choices, and doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean doing the thing that feels good.” 

I have seen this book all over Instagram with people raving about how amazing this book was. While it was a great read and compelling, I just thought it was really good. Maybe the over hype set some high standards. But it was still really good and I am glad I read it.  I think because the whole book is focused on Echo trying to remember her repressed memories of the night she got her gruesome scars and when she finally remembered it was a little predictable to me. It wasn't some big unveiling of what happened. However, I think the story and the characters were great. Echo lost her brother and his death haunts her every single day and her mother is bipolar. These two factors have truly scarred her in and of themselves. What I really enjoyed though was actually her relationship with her father. At first he is truly distant and controlling, but then we see that he is actually just afraid and doesn't know how to act around her. When he sees her all he sees is regret and the mistake that he made that awful night that he let her down. I really enjoyed that that they were able to fix their relationship because she really needed her family.

“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.” 

Noah, I think, was my absolute favorite. This guy was so full of passion and  love for his brothers that it drives his very being. I loved every scene he had with his brothers because it was so heart warming and I actually cried multiple times because it was just so adorable. What was most touching was that he realizes that he wasn't allowing himself to really love Echo because he felt like he was betraying his parents and brothers, but I was so thrilled when he realized that he can love them both and have everything he wanted! He was always there for Echo when she needed him and I just loved him! Who doesn't want a sweet, loving, protective, bad boy by their side? I know I do!

This book was filled with some amazing secondary characters as well. Echo and Noah have the  best friends I have seen in awhile. I think Isaiah is my favorite and because he gets his own story in Crash into You, I will just have to read it even though I wasn't originally planning it. And it was really refreshing that this novel was actually pretty dark. When you really look into it, this book is dark. These two characters are battling their darkest demons and trying to make their brightest future. I really enjoyed myself reading this. And I definitely recommend this to anyone who needs a good, touching contemporary that deals with some tough decisions with a great love story.

Would I recommend? Yes.

{REVIEW} The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Title: The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend
Author: Kody Keplinger
Rating: ★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“No matter where you go or what you do to distract yourself, reality catches up with you eventually.” 

I'm going to be honest, I only picked this book up because I kept seeing it everyone on Instagram, but the plot seemed a little eh to me, but when my real motivation came when I found out it was going to be a movie. Of course I have to read it now, right!? Well I did and I was pleasantly surprised. I actually loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the relationships. I loved everything that this book stood for. It's a little darker, but shows readers the ugly side of what some teens have to go through with families. I totally sympathized for Bianca when her alcoholic father relapsed and she had no idea what to do. Her once content little home was turning upside down and she didn't know what to do. So she goes to the only outlet that seemed to offer some release...Wesley. This no strings attached, purely physical arrangement turned into something much more. We all knew that. We all called it from the moment Bianca poured her drink at him, not only because it's right there in the book description, but because there was just too much chemistry right off the bat!

First:
"Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls. They chase him.”

Then:
“You’re right. Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, and I’m not chasing you”

But in the end:
"Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I’m chasing you" ♥

I loved Bianca and Wesley! I loved their relationship even if they were only having sex together. They were just so perfect for each other and I am so glad it led to much much more. They both were there for each other when the other needed them. Wesley showed just how beautiful she actually was and she is more than the Duff. Bianca showed Wesley that he needed to face his parents and stand up for himself and his sister, leave his womanizing lifestyle and bring some stability back into his life. In the end I am just so touched that Bianca changed Wesley's view of girls and relationships and actually made him want to chase her...because Wesley Rush doesn't chase girls...come on.  But that ending? *sighs* it was so cute and perfect, I loved it. I am happy.

"Just remember to do what makes you happy, okay? Don’t lie to yourself because you think it’s safer. Reality doesn't work like that"

What I loved most too was Bianca's friends Jessica and Casey. Jessica is the sweet and innocent, ditsy girl that is just so fun to have around. Casey is the sensible cheerleader, but sweet and always there to protect and help Bianca. What made me most upset was that Bianca was being such a jerk to her. Casey was openly trying to figure out what was wrong with Bianca and wanted to be there for her, but Bianca was just bottling everything up and ditching her friends. Granted, yes she was running off to Wesley, but it was so sad that she was pushing her friends aside. She could have been honest with them and it was just so sad because Casey was so hurt because of it. I am glad that they made up and it didn't blow up to be way worse than it could have because great friendships like this are hard to find. I am glad that Keplinger played this Duff business the way she wrote it as well. At first when I found out that Bianca was the so called "Duff" I thought her friends only kept her around for this reason, but then we found out that they had no idea what the Duff actually was and were actually upset that Bianca would ever even think that she's the ugly freak of a friend. To Casey and Jessica, they were the Duff. I think that's what I loved most about this book. Everyone feels insecure and the freak. The ugly one, the fat one, the one who is too short or too tall, but at the end of the day, we are all different and have our insecurities but we are all beautiful. This book brings a wonderful theme and I wish I had read it sooner.

This book was just a great read. It's funny, it's sweet, it makes you think. It's a perfect read for teenage girls and I really enjoyed it. Now I hope the movie does it justice!

Would I recommend? Yes. Fair warning though, it has some "mature language"

{REVIEW} To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Book: 1
Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

Blurb from Goodreads:

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

My Rating/Thoughts:

“Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's the part of the risk. I don't want to be scared anymore.” 

This was a fun, fast, easy, and cute read. I genuinely enjoyed it. I haven't read anything by Jenny Han before so I didn't know what to expect considering everyone was raving about this book so I was a little worried I hyped this book up in my head, but it did not disappoint. The writing is great and filled with so many relatable feelings. The plot was simple, yet very interesting and compelling. Lara Jean is a likable character (though all the characters are so likable). To me, she was a bit relatable. She cares about her family with all her heart and she lives to please and make sure they are taken care of once her sister Margot goes off to college in Scotland. I loved the male characters in this book as well so much that I just didn't know who I loved more at first. I still don't. But I think I am definitely Team Peter.

“You'd rather make up a fantasy version of somebody in your head than be with a real person.”

Peter was such a great character! He was funny and sweet and just all around great. I loved the way he acted with Kitty. I thought he was a great boyfriend to Lara Jean even if it was "pretend' but let's be real..this kid was in love the whole entire time no matter what he says. He was so honest and straight with Lara Jean about everything and it was refreshing. She could be herself with him and just enjoy being with him. How sweet it is that he'd pick her up everyday for school and went out the night before to get mocha donuts for their ski trip?! Awwwwe!!!

“When someone's been gone a long time, at first you save up all the things you want to tell them. You try to keep track of everything in your head. But it's like trying to hold on to a fistful of sand: all the little bits slip out of your hands, and then you're just clutching air and grit.” 

I think the only problem I had with this book was Margot. She was a little too hypocritical to me and she annoyed me. She appeared to be a little too judgmental and a know it all that I was a bit turned off by her. Lara Jean looked up to her so much and her opinion was all that mattered to Lara Jean so it was a bit sad that their relationship was tearing apart when Lara Jean needed her most. But their ending was still heartwarming and I am really happy for the ending. I'll look forward to what happens in the next coming book because let's face it...we need more.

I need more Peter! I need more Josh and Kitty!

Great cute read and I am glad that I read this in a day during my horrendous reading slump!

Would I recommend? Yes. It's cute and will make you smile.

{REVIEW} My Life With The Walter Boys by Ali Novak

Title: My Life With The Walter Boys
Author: Ali Novak
Series: My Life With The Walter Boys
Book: 1
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year old Jackie Howard knows nothing about her new guardian Katherine Walter when she moves from New York to Colorado. After discovering that Katherine has twelve boys, Jackie fears that living in the Walter house isn't going to be easy. It's just icing on the cake that the boys look like Abercrombie models...

My Rating/Thoughts:

This is EXACTLY what I needed to defeat my nasty reading slump! This was a quick, cutesy, funny and just all around adorable read. I absolutely loved it and devoured it in a day. Now Ali Novak has originally uploaded this story on Wattpad and when it was officially published it had about 50% never before seen stuff. So the fact that I read the published version AND Wattpad version both in two days really says something. I mean I basically just read the same story back to back in the duration of two days. That says a lot for me. No matter how much I loved a story, I wouldn't read it back to back. But this story was just so cute and I loved it. I loved all the characters and didn't want to say goodbye to them so soon. In fact, I am currently reading her "What if" alternate story of My Life As A Walter which focuses on Cole four years after My Life With The Walter Boys. I have no idea what it is about these contemporary stories that surrounds huge families with a million boys, but I am like a greedy kid in a candy store. I was obsessed with My Life Next Door and I really enjoyed Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys (which this story takes inspiration from). So without further adieu. Let's get down to business.

So after an accident that causes the death of her entire family, Jackie Howard finds herself in her mother's long lost best friend Katherine Walter's care. She must go with her to live with her family in Colorado with 12 boys! Well 11, but the daughter Parker is basically just another one of the boys (lol). I loved that the boys all had such different personalities. Cole was the arrogant, conceited jerk that you can't help but love. Alex is the cute, adorable nerdy shy guy that you just want to hug. Nathan is a sweetheart, Isaac is just as cocky, but you can't help but laugh at him. The small twins are adorable and just this whole family is so lovable. I loved reading about everyone and I really liked how close they are.

This book was filled with just the right amount of humor and romance that it was exactly what I needed right now. I loved the love triangle because it left me just as torn as Jackie. I kept flip flopping right along with Jackie. I always like these stories as well because it's kind of nice to not know who you love because the characters both have different things to offer. But I am glad with the ending. The only thing that I want is more. So I am ecstatic that Novak is working on an official sequel that will continue from Jackie's POV and pick up right where this novel ended! (Phew, thank God)

What I really enjoyed about this book was the acceptance of Jackie into the family. It shows how far she came. At the beginning she didn't feel like she belonged anywhere. Her family was gone and she had no one in New York, but she didn't feel like she belong with the Walters either. So for Katherine to include her in the family murial and call her her family was truly touching. Jackie finally had a family and a home. Now in the Wattpad version, Nathan was the artist and the one who painted the murial and I think I liked that version better just because it was more touching coming from him. He saw Jackie as his sister and because he painted her in the middle of everyone with his arm around her and the twins hanging on her legs while Cole and Alex fought over who would stand next to her was perfect! Obviously the two versions had a lot of differences and some plot holes were tweaked, character personalities were different for a few, but for the most part it was the same and  I think I liked the Wattpad version more because it offered more stuff. However! I didn't like Cole in that version much because he was so pushy with Jackie that it was such a turn off. But I still loved him. I had to.

Now I have to go purchase the physical copy of this book so I can read it over and over until the sequel releases in late 2015/early 2016. *sigh*

Would I recommend? Yes.

{REVIEW} The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?


Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

My Rating/Thoughts:
"Love isn't supposed to make sense. It's completely illogical.” 

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! This book was so filled with sweet ooey gooey sweetness that I was just so happy reading it. I think this is my favorite love story for the year. I loved these characters and the story so much. I absolutely loved it! I can't say it enough.

Jennifer E. Smith writes another great love story that ends with an open end for readers to imagine how the couple end up. And since I love this couple so much, I say they lived happily ever after going on their road trip to North Dakota and it's perfect (hehe).

So this book is about Hadley who is going to the airport to attend the wedding of her father that she hasn't seen in over a year to a woman that she has never met. She is only four minutes late to her flight and boy, am I just so happy she was! She must change to the next flight and ends up sitting next to the gorgeous, British, and incredibly sweet Oliver. I loved Oliver. I loved him the second he offered to watch her luggage when a rude woman in the waiting area wouldn't. I loved that he decided to get up and carry her suitcase for her and they went to have lunch. He was just a perfect gentleman and I shipped them so hard the entire book and I am so happy with how it ended.

But let's dive into the characters. I think one of my favorite characters in the book was Hadley's dad, Andrew. Andrew left for a summer program to be a professor in Oxford and ends up meeting a new woman and leaving Hadley's mother and her. I thought this was so heartbreaking for Hadley because the whole time she is struggling with his new marriage to a woman she has never met and already hates because she is not her mother. She feels she is getting left behind in her father's new life. So the fact that her father was trying to include her and making sure that nothing was going to change between them was just heartwarming. I loved reading the flashbacks Hadley would think about that included her dad and it was touching. I loved the relationship she had with him and was really hoping that they could patch things up. I cried only two times during this book and they were both during scenes with Hadley and her father. Especially when she broke down at the hotel and he pulls her away and tells her it's time to consult the elephant. Awwwwww! Just like he would do when she was litle.

“He’s like a song she can’t get out of her head. Hard as she tries, the melody of their meeting runs through her mind on an endless loop, each time as surprisingly sweet as the last, like a lullaby, like a hymn, and she doesn’t think she could ever get tired of hearing it.” 

Now Oliver was really sweet. I loved that he spent the whole flight to London trying to distract Hadley because she was claustrophobic and afraid of flying. He made up silly research plans and jokes for her that it was just too cute. He also drew her a drawing of a duck with a hat and sneakers on a napkin?! They just spent the whole flight talking about everything that it was surprising that they had only met a couple of hours before. It was like they were already so comfortable together that it was hard to believe this book took place in a 24 hour time period.

This book was just all sweet and lovey. I love J.E. Smith's writing so much and I will definitely continue reading anything she writes. Plus I just love the formatting of her physical books as well. The fonts on the cover, the page themes, the little doodles on the pages, everything! It's all so cute and perfect for the books. And I absolutely love how she ended the book and worked in the title. I couldn't help but smile like an idiot when I read it.

“What are you really studying?"

He leans back to look at her. "The statistical probability of love at first sight."

"Very funny," she says. "What is it really?"

"I'm serious."

"I don't believe you."

He laughs, then lowers his mouth so that it's close to her ear. "People who meet in airports are seventy-two percent more likely too fall for each other than people who meet anywhere else.” 

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely

{REVIEW} The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Geography of You and Me
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Rating: ★★★

Blurb from Goodreads:

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

My Rating/Thoughts:

"You can't know the answer until you ask the question."

First of all, I enjoy Jennifer E. Smith. I like her writing and the way she ends her book with an open ending letting us readers to imagine how the couples ends up. But this book was just okay for me. I still enjoyed it, but I didn't really get as connected as I usually do for other books. I didn't need this couple to end up together, I wanted it, but I didn't need it. I guess I just thought it was going to be different. I thought that the whole book we were going to see how Owen and Lucy communicate with each other over the thousands of miles they spent apart and it was going to be adorable and I'd root for them, but this wasn't the case at all. In fact, they hardly communicated at all. Besides a few postcards with a sentence or two, these two didn't speak much and it was no wonder that when they met up in San Francisco it was so awkward. I didn't like how Lucy would send Owen e-mails, long e-mails at that, and Owen would say that he never responded because he simply didn't know how. I think that's just rude. Instead he just blew her off because that wasn't his thing? Then he begins "seeing" a girl when he and his dad move to Lake Tahoe, but it's no big deal. But! the second Lucy says she has a boyfriend as well, he gets jealous and upset and they get into a fight! Excuse you, why was it okay for you to be with Paisley and it's no big deal, but it's not okay for Lucy to actually be with someone too? This fight ends up leaving the couple not even speaking for months! I didn't like that. I ended up just not caring and wondering where this was even going. It was just boring and nothing was happening. In the end, I liked how it all came together, but I felt like there was a whole lot of nothing in this book. It was a little frustrating to me.

"When there was nothing but space between you, everything felt like a leap."

Would I recommend? Hmm...maybe if this is your type of read, but it's not fantastic.

Book Cake Tag!

The lovely Yvonne from a world between folded pages tagged me to do the Book Cake tag! Thanks lovely! Tags are always fun. 

Flour: A book that was a little bit slow to start off but really picked up as it went along.

I choose The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. I was into this book from the beginning, but I feel like it took a little while for it to get going. I felt like I was just going through the motions at first. But then I got into it and found it quite intriguing, even though it was a little bit like The Hunger Games at times for me. 

Margarine: A book that had a rich, great plot.

I immediately think of The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Shadow and Bone was so intriguing and grabbed me from the very first pages. I loved the characters and the beautiful magical world that Bardugo created! I could not put this book or series down. 

Eggs: A book you first thought was going to be bad but actually turned out quite enjoyable. 

I am going to have to go with The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey for this one because I am just not a huge sci-fi, alien invasion reader. In fact, I hate sci-fi, but this book was great to me! I was hooked the entire time even though it did get confusing at parts. Many people have said that it is very slow at the beginning, but I didn't feel that way at all. From the very beginning I was hooked. I loved it. 

Sugar: A sugary, sweet book.

For me this has  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins written all over it. This book was just ooey, gooey love. I absolutely loved it. The characters are all so lovable and the story is just so great. It's a quick and easy read. This will now be my go-to book for a quick pick me up when I am depressed or stressed.  

Icing: A book that covered every single element that you enjoy about a book (funny moments, action moments, sad moments, etc.)

I am going to have to go with Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead for this one. This is the last book in the Vampire Academy series and I was actually hooked through the whole series. I read the series in about a week and it has everything: a strong female heroine, witty characters, two sexy male characters that you will fall in love with, action, humor, and everything else you love. If you can get over how cheesy you may think Vampire Academy may be, you'll be surprised by how great it actually is. I know because I was one of those people who thought it was the most cheesy and stupid series out there, but it ended up being one of my favorites once I gave it a chance. 

Sprinkles: A book series that you can kind of turn back to for a little pick me up when you're feeling down. 

This is a little hard for me because I have so many series that I absolutely adore, but to pick me up when I'm down? That has to be the Shatter Me trilogy without a doubt. I choose this because I am so in love with Aaron Warner and if you say you aren't, you're crazy. This man is so sexy and wonderful that I just....gah I love this man so much. Because of his and Juliette's love, I would definitely turn to Shatter Me for many re-reads. 

The Cherry on Top: Your favorite book this year so far. 

Well this year is almost over and I am choosing City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare for my favorite book this year. This book was a great conclusion to The Mortal Instruments series and I was crying the entire time because it was so hard to say goodbye to all my favorite characters. Plus it had me in suspense throughout the whole book because I was so terrified that some of my favorites were going to die! But I am really glad with how this series ended. Clare certainly knows how to write a finale! It was also so nice to see my favorites from The Infernal Devices series as well. I think their cameos are what made me crying the most! I will forever read anything Cassandra Clare writes! 

*REVIEW* Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Rating: ★★★★★
Blurb from Goodreads:
Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

My Rating/Thoughts

"I want everyone to meet you. You're my favorite person of all time."

I can't even with this book right now! I was looking for something light and cutesy to get me over my book hangover after reading Ruing and Rising and this book seriously did the trick. It had great scenes that just made the feels flood all over you. It has a great sense of humor and you can't help but love the heck out of it. I am glad I chose this to be my first Rainbow Rowell book. I have heard nothing but great things about Rowell and didn't know what to expect since I am not a huge contemporary reader but this did not disappoint. I loved it! I loved all the characters (expect Richie. Duh. Right, Eleanor?) and the storyline was great. I loved that it showed just how great and strong a character Eleanor was. She was bullied not only at school from mean girls, but at home too. All these scenes just made you want to go punch someone right along with Park. 

Aside from the ever terrible Richie I really felt so badly for Eleanor. She didn't have much but she made the most of what she had. She never complained about not having everything other girls had or about the clothes that she wore. She just made due and I think I loved this most about her. She wasn't selfish and never felt angry about what they didn't have. Which warmed my heart when Park's mom saw her at the grocery store and it brought her to tears because she remembered what it was like to be in a big family that didn't have much. This was the turning point that brought Park's mom to get to know Eleanor and not see her as a "troubled girl." But Eleanor was such a great character to read about. She was insecure and not comfortable in her own skin and Park was the one who showed her no matter what you can be loved. She was beautiful without even trying and had a great heart. I loved her joking nature she had with Park. The way she'd roll her eyes or tease him about learning to drive a stick. 

"I don't think I even breathe when we're not together. Which means, when I see you on Monday morning, it's been like sixty hours since I've taken a breath."

Park. Oh, Park. I don't know where to even start with Park. He was just so adorable. I loved that he gave up his seat on the bus so Eleanor could sit down. I loved that he noticed she was reading his comics so he just opened the pages wider so she would read along. I loved that he began bringing her comics to read without even speaking to her. I loved the mixtapes she made for her. I loved every single thing he did for her! To punching Steve and declaring to EVERYONE that she was his girlfriend to giving her a safe haven at his house for her to get away from her stepdad. Park was so lovable and I loved everything about him. And I really enjoyed the relationship he shared with Eleanor. He never gave up on them. Even when Eleanor had left and said goodbye, Park refused. He stayed at home and wrote her every day because he didn't give up on their love for each other. How Noah of him!

Now I had planned to get into Richie's character and how much of a jerk he was or how OH MY GOD HE WAS THE ONE WRITING NOTES ON HER BOOKS! but you know what? I can't. He's just terrible and I had to forcefully make myself not skip pages when he was around. The entire time I just thought that he was going to end up in some sort of accident or kill himself because he was driving drunk or something and it may be sad or terrible but I hoped for it! But you know I don't feel bad because he deserved it! I kept yelling at Eleanor's mom TO LEAVE HIM! JUST LEAVE! Stop putting those poor kids through this! Maybe this spoke too close to home for me but I hate seeing kids having to live through this type of warzone. To waking up to yelling and crying. To being scared to even go home because who knows what you are walking to. It's terrible. 

Now on the other hand Park's parents were wonderful. The fact that Park's dad went to Eleanor and said that if it's easier for her to be at their house away from her stepdad then he wanted her there as long as she liked. Then he offered to help her when things took a bad turn just brought tears to my eyes. 


*Sigh* This book was just so great. So great that I can't even get over it. The feels have filled my body and I am so happy and crying over it that I just want more. I don't want to give these characters up. I want more Park. I want more Eleanor. I want to know they are together and happy and perfect. AND THAT ENDING?!?!?!?! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! If those "three words"WEREN'T I love you....then uh uh. Just no.