What I Thought Was True

What I Thought Was True is a summer romance with a little more depth than usual.  I didn't think it was quite as multi-leveled as Sarah Dessen tends to pull off, but I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of this seemingly simple summer romance.  It isn't a typical summer fling story though.  The main character, Gwen Castle, lives on a small island and definitely cannot wait to escape it.  She just has one more year of high school to go and she will be free.  She just has to make it through the summer first.  The one problem, she is constantly bombarded with the one boy she can't seem to get out her mind, despite their less than pleasant past.  He is a rich boy from across the bridge.  She shouldn't have to even see him over summer break.  Unfortunately, he has taken the job yard boy to the island.  Now she can't avoid him.  Over the course of the summer, she begins to realize that she never really knew him, or even herself really.  While all the relationships and people around her seem to be changing or revealing truths she never saw coming, Gwen is forced to decide for herself what she really wants and what will truly make her happy.  Mistakes is the underlying theme of this story, but perhaps some mistakes are not that at all.  Perhaps it is the mistakes that will shape the future and decide the truth path.  I rather enjoyed the characters in this book.  Gwen, trying to be herself despite an unfortunate and maybe undeserved reputation.  Cass, a good guy plagued by an unfortunate choice in best friend and a family that expects more from him.  Emory, the little brother that is not quite right, but finds his way to every heart.  There are more characters, but those three are my favorites.  I just loved little Emory.  Grandpa Ben was a lot of fun too.  Coming from a small town that is invaded by outsiders in the summer, I could relate a little to how Gwen felt.  For her though, it was a bunch of rich entitled people coming in for the summer and treating the island people like the hired help, even those who weren't.  Mrs. Ellington and her group of ladies provide a fun comic relief.  It did bother how long into the book you have to wait to find out what happened between Cass and Gwen in the spring.  It is alluded to throughout, but not revealed until almost the ending.  That bothered me because it left me unable to fully develop an opinion of Cass.  I liked him from the beginning, but couldn't know for sure if I should, since I didn't know whatever he did or didn't do to Gwen previously.  Overall, I enjoyed the book.  It was a solid three out of five stars for me (I rarely give anything five stars, so keep that in mind.  Three for some people may be low, but for me it is a solid book).  You can decide for yourself.  Happy reading!

How To Love

How to Love is definitely not a book for everyone.  I hesitated to read it because I don't like books dealing with teen pregnancy.  This book does have a teenage mother, but it isn't about her being pregnant.  In fact, her entire pregnancy is skipped over.  This book jumps back and forth between Before and After, letting the past and present unfold simultaneously.  It tells the story of Reena and Sawyer, from Reena's point of view.

In the Before, she has been in love with Sawyer since the seventh grade.  Their parent's are best friends, so they have grown up side by side.  Sawyer is two years older than her.  Despite her obsession with him, he doesn't seem to even notice her.  Then one day, he asks her to hang out and the rest is history.  The two fall in love.  He is far from perfect though.  He drags her around to parties she has no interest in going to.  All she wants is to graduate early and get out of town.  With college acceptance on the horizon she discovers she is pregnant.  When she goes to Sawyer's to tell him, she watches him packing into his jeep like he is going on a trip.  Little does she know, his trip will last over two years, with no word to anyone on where he is or if he is okay.

The After begins with Sawyer's return to town.  He wants to pick things back up with Reena, but she is less than thrilled to see him.  When he learns about their daughter, Hannah, he wants to be a part of her life.  Reena has a new boyfriend, a new life.  Sawyer, however, cannot be ignored.  He keeps popping up at inconvenient times, forcing her to deal with him.  This is definitely an unconventional love story, but that is indeed what it is.  Both Reena and Sawyer have to learn what it truly means to love someone else and even more importantly, how to love themselves.  Both characters are very flawed.  A lot of people don't like Sawyer, which makes them not like this book.  I listened to it on audio, and the reader did a good job of capturing his character.  If I had read him instead, I may not have liked him.  In the audio version, I couldn't help myself from cheering him on.  I wanted him to get it together.  I had an easier time excusing his idiocy and empathizing with him.  Reena's best friend, Shelby, was lots of fun.  Overall, I enjoyed the book.  Like I said, Sawyer will either make or break this book for you.  It definitely isn't for everybody, but I liked it.  Happy reading!

Isla and the Happily Ever After

This is the third and final book in the series.  As far as series go, these books are barely tied together.  Each title has it's own character and own story.  The overlap is the couple from the first book are minor characters in the second book, and the couples from the first two books make an appearance in the third book.  It is lots of fun to have those characters visit though.

This third book follows Isla Martin as she embarks on her senior year of boarding school in Paris.  Things seem to be looking up when longtime crush, Josh, not only notices her, but might actually be interested in her.  All her dreams are coming true, until a mistake is made and the love birds are torn apart.  As Isla gets an inside look into Josh's life, she realizes that maybe she doesn't really know him at all.  On top of that, she starts to question his feelings for her.  She doesn't believe he really loves her.  Can she learn to trust herself and Josh before her happily ever after melts away?

After reading this book I really want to reread the first one (Anna and the French Kiss).  Josh is best friends with St. Clair, one of the main characters from the first book.  I don't remember Josh much from that book and now I want to reread it.  He is only a minor character, but he is in the group of friends that Anna makes.  Isla even makes a cameo in that book.  Now that I've gotten to know Josh better, I am curious about his character in the first book.  In this book he is all alone.  His friends all graduated the year before.  This book takes place the year after the first book.  I wish I could remember more, but it is a really good book so I don't mind rereading it someday.  It's a really good series and this was a fun ending.  All the main characters from the three books come together for a night.  It was a fun reunion.  The books are all worth a read.  As far as teen/young adult romance is concerned, Stephanie Perkins is one of those authors that takes it to the next level, in my opinion.  She writes interesting characters that are fun to get to know.  Give her books a try.  Happy reading!

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

This book is sort of written like a celebrity biography.  It's completely fictional, but it is laid out like a true story with the author writing about her own brief, yet memorable, encounter with the subject and how that inspired her to look a little deeper into Addison's life.  I enjoyed this book because it was different from other books I usually read.  There are photographs of the characters throughout the book to further illustrate their personalities and to make it more real.  The story is told through a series of interview entries, without the interviewer presence.  It details the final two years (maybe a little less) of the life of Addison Stone, an up and coming artist already famous in NYC.  She is a very interesting and complex character.  A ticking time bomb that was bound to explode.  He covers her struggles with mental illness (schizophrenia), her manic energy, and thirst for experiencing life.  She didn't feel fear, even when she should have.  She didn't have a great home life and couldn't wait to escape.  When a chance to move to NYC came, she grabbed it and never really looked back.  Too young to be alone in the big city, she didn't always make the best choices.  It details her highly dysfunctional relationships with both friends and lovers.  The interviewees include her long time best friend, Lucy, high school boyfriend, Jonah, a variety of authority figures (parents, teachers, influential people in the art world), as well as New York friends, her brother and two New York boyfriends, Zach and Lincoln, who are both people of interest in her death.  Following her ups and downs was rather entertaining.  She was full of an energy that just sucks you right in.  The author created a very interesting character.  Despite knowing from the beginning that she died, I found myself holding on to the very end wanting to suck up all the details of her story that I could.  It reminds me of those behind the scenes TV True Hollywood Stories or whatever they are called.  This was just like that.  It reminds me of the headlines and stories all over the place telling us details of famous people's lives that I think all of us can't help but read a little, even if we couldn't really care less.  Call it morbid fascination.  That is probably why I liked this book.  It felt like an inside look into the life a young, famous person who died too young.  Guilty pleasure or whatever, it is worth a read.  I enjoyed the various narrators helping piece the story together.  It was a nice change of pace from the normal stuff I read.  If you are looking for something a little less mainstream, perhaps this is it.  Happy reading!

Fangirl

Fangirl is the ultimate coming of age story.  Twin sisters Cather and Wren are heading off to college.  Wren, the extrovert, wants nothing more than to branch out.  Cath, the introvert, has no interest in meeting anybody.  Her whole world revolves around her fan fiction site.  She has spent years writing Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-like character) fan fiction, gaining thousands of followers.  She prefers to live in that world.  Wren wants to walk away from the fangirl life that bonded them as kids.  She spends too much time partying it up and immersing herself in the college life.  Cath spends all her free time writing.  Her roommate Reagan and her boyfriend Levi make constant attempts to coax her into the real world.

At its core, this book is about growing up.  Change is not something everyone is good with, but it happens anyway.  Cath is one of those people forced to deal with the changes that come from growing up.  She has to decide what she really wants and whether she will let fear keep her from getting it.  It is a story about falling in love, accepting who you are, making new friends, letting go of the past and embracing the future.  The characters are spectacular.  They are so well written you can't help but feel you know them.  This book will just suck you in and keep you going to the very end.

I myself am not now nor have I ever been a fan fiction reader/fan, but the culture of fandom is something that fascinates me.  The passion that people feel for fictional characters and worlds can be contagious.  It always entertains me when I read about or see that world come to life.  This book is really about fandom, so if you are not interested in that, don't let that be what stops you from reading this.  Also, don't read it hoping to get a book about fandom.  This book is about a fangirl who is forced to grow up and figure out what life outside the fantasy world of Simon Snow means.  On her own for the first time, she has to find herself and figure out who she wants to be.  It is definitely worth reading.  Once again, the characters are what make this story stand out.  They are exceptional.  Happy reading!

One Past Midnight

Another winner from Jessica Shirvington.  One Past Midnight had me sucked in from the very beginning.  The idea alone was intriguing.  Add her writing talent to that and it was a total success for me.  The story follows Sabine, a girl plagued with two lives.  Every night at midnight she "Shifts" between her two worlds, forced to live every day twice.  After spending the day in one life, she shifts back to the exact moment she left in the other life.

In one life she is part of a rich family with two older brothers and divorced parents.  She is one half of the most envied couple in school, although she is somewhat repulsed by Dex's kisses.  Her life is pretty much the picture of perfect.  In her other life she has a little sister she absolutely adores and two workaholic parents.  She is a bit of a punk, considered somewhat of a troublemaker, with a best friend her parents don't approve of.  All she wants is to have a normal life like everyone around her.

After she turns eighteen, things start to change.  When she breaks her arm in one life, the injury doesn't carry over to the other life.  Encouraged by this new development, she begins to experiment.  First she cuts and dyes her hair.  Then she hurts herself.  Finally, she poisons herself.  None of the effects carry over.  Her dream of a normal life may be attainable after all, she just has to choose which one she wants.

I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the idea of the two lives, and the author did a fabulous job of writing the less than appealing reality that would pose.  In eighteen years of actually living, Sabine has to live thirty-six years of days.  The weight of juggling two lives drags her down.  It definitely makes you see that no matter how bad you think your life is, it could be worse.  Also, the author does a good job of showing that no matter how perfect someone's life may appear to be, everyone has problems to overcome.  It was a very engaging book.  I felt right there with Sabine when she was going through all the struggles life was throwing at her.  I would definitely recommend this book.  Happy reading!

Slammed

A friend of mine recommended Slammed to me last summer.  I pretty much read it from cover to cover.  It was one of the those books I just didn't want to put down.  In my opinion, the book was poorly edited, and at times it really bothered me.  The story itself was enough to keep me reading and ultimately overlooking all the errors.  If that is something that you just can't abide, don't even bother with this book.

It begins with Layken (Lake), Kel and their mother moving from Texas to Michigan after their father dies of a heart attack.  As soon as Kel steps out of the U-Haul, their new neighbor, Caulder, comes running out to meet them.  The two young boys become instant friends.  When Caulder's older brother (and guardian), Will, comes out to meet them, there are instant sparks between him and Lake.  The two go on a date and have the best night of their lives.  They are quickly on their way to falling in love.  A few days later a bitter truth is revealed that puts a halt to their budding relationship.  The two are forced to try to forget/get over their feelings.

This book has a lot of layers to it.  There is a lot going on in the lives of all the characters.  It is far from boring.  The characters are wonderfully written.  The little boys, Kel and Caulder, provide a humor and honesty when faced with the worst of circumstances.  They are like a ray of light in an otherwise dark world.  Lake's new best friend, Eddie, also provides a much needed energy and optimism that helps buoy Lake up.  The title comes from Will's love of slam poetry, a
fun addition to the story.  It has a lot of poetry, which I usually don't like much.  In this book I found myself rather enjoying it and getting caught up in the energy of it.  There are also lots of twists/reveals in the book that left me feeling "slammed."  The title works in more than one way in this book.  If you enjoy it, the story continues in Point of Retreat, told from Will's point of view.  It isn't quite as good as the first, but still worth reading.  I could have done without the third book.  I was pleasantly surprised by this title.  Perhaps you will be too.  Happy reading!

The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch is a book I've been wanting to read since it came out last fall.  I finally got to it last week.  Donna Tartt's first book, The Secret History, is one of my favorite books.  When this book came out I was excited.  It sounded very interesting.  When it won the Pulitzer for Fiction this year, I figured it was definitely one I shouldn't miss.  While I didn't think it was as good as her first book, I did enjoy it.  My main problem with it is all the cursing.  Way too many f words for my liking.  While I rather enjoyed the character of Boris, his constant use of foul language bothered me.  Also, it is overly long.  I've had friends recommend this to me, claiming it is amazing.  For me it was a solid 3/5 stars, maybe 3.5.  This is hardly a feel good book.  It follows Theo Decker from his early teenage years to his late twenties.  When he is 13 or so, he and his mother are victims of a terrorist attack.  He survives, she doesn't.  Crawling out of the wreckage, on the instruction of a dying old man, he takes two things with him.  One a ring, the other a painting.  That final encounter forever shapes his life.  Some for good, but mostly for bad.  Theo's life goes down hill from there.  His deadbeat dad is nowhere to be found, and his grandparents are less than willing to take him in.  Luckily, he finds a home with a rich childhood friend.  That is, until his conman father shows up looking for a payday.  For two years Theo leaves Manhattan for Las Vegas.  That is where he meets Boris.  The two get into all sorts of trouble: heavy drinking and drugs, along with shoplifting.  The boys are basically on their own, little to no parental supervision.  After an incident with Theo's father, he heads back to New York.  There he is taken in by Hobie, the business partner of the dying man from the attack.  He finds a home and a career in the antiques business with Hobie, a very talented restorer.  When Boris shows back up in his life, what little stability Theo has been maintaining comes crumbling down around him.  At the center of all his trouble, the painting he saved from the rubble.  It takes him years to deal with the trauma of his childhood, but you spend the whole book cheering him on, hoping he will make the right choice.  He continuously does not.  He is definitely a train wreck, but you really can't help pulling for him.  A victim of circumstance who is trying to survive the best way he knows how.  He is a tough and resilient young man.  The supporting cast is lots of fun.  Hobie and Pippa, Boris and Andy, along with a handful of characters that provide lifelines when he needs them most.  Like all of us, not everybody he clings to is good for him, but they all change his life in ways he can't even imagine.  It is definitely worth a read, as long as you're not looking for a light and fluffy feel good story.  You won't be able to look at paintings the same way again.  Happy reading!

The Fault in Our Stars

After months of The Fault in Our Stars being on the bestseller lists, I figured I should see what all the fuss was about.  That was over a year ago, and it is still on the bestseller lists.  If you have yet to read it, I recommend seeing for yourself what the big deal is.  There are plenty of people who have read it and still wondered about all the stink, but I was not one of them.  I absolutely loved this book.  It is one of those stories that keeps you thinking about it long after it is over.  I don't know if I would have had the same reaction if I had read it.  You see, I listened to the audio version, and it was phenomenal.  The voice actor did such a wonderful job of portraying the characters.  I've been saving this book for June, which is audio month.

As far as audio books go, the reader definitely holds a lot of power as far as making a book wonderful or forever ruining it for the world.  I have listened to plenty of books that I may have liked a lot better if I had read them myself instead.  Sometimes it is simply the readers voice that bothers me.  Other times it is their inability to do proper accents when appropriate.  Whatever the reason, I have definitely come to appreciate the true talent that voice acting involves.  Narrating an audio book is a lot more than merely reading it--Listen to Harry Potter and tell me anyone can do it.  I dare you.  I have listened to books that I love and been unable to even finish the audio version, forever grateful I read it first so as not to miss out on it.  There are also plenty of audio books that I probably liked better than if I had read them myself.  I have yet to read this book, for fear I will not like it as much, although I did purchase it with the intention of someday reading it.

I rarely give five star reviews on Goodreads, but this is one of those titles that made the cut.  Like I said, the reader had me so absorbed in the story I hated to see it end.  You'll definitely need a box of tissues on hand.  All the main characters are cancer patients.  When Hazel's mother makes her go to a cancer support group, she makes friends that will forever change her life, short as it may be.  She knows she is terminal, but when she meets Augustus she truly begins to live.  It is a story about love, friendship, loyalty, dreams and living your life to the fullest.  If you have not yet read it, I highly recommend giving it a try.  Better yet, listen to the audio version.  The movie comes out on Friday, and I can't wait to see it.  I hope I won't be disappointed.  Since the previews make me cry, I may have to wait until it comes out on video so I can blubber in the privacy of my own home.  Although, I will hardly be the only one reaching for a tissue.  It is not a feel good book, but it will definitely make you feel.  Happy reading/listening!

The Summer I Became a Nerd

The Summer I Became a Nerd is a lot of fun. It does a good job of addressing the social pressure to fit in in High School, and the crippling intensity of caring what other people think to the detriment of your own happiness. After a traumatic experience of being made fun of and ostracized for showing her true nerd self, Maddie vows to hide that side of her at all costs. She is a comic book, role-playing, video game lover on the inside, and a popular, quarterback dating cheerleader on the outside. When she is forced to enter the local comic book shop to buy the newest and last edition of her favorite comic, her world is turned upside down. Logan, her longtime secret crush is behind the counter and her attempt at hiding her identity doesn't fool him (he has been crushing on her for years too). As she begins to get closer to Logan, the lies she tells to hide her secret nerd side start to unravel. Maddie spends all her time trying to make and keep everyone else happy, but doesn't think about her own happiness. Logan makes her realize that there is nothing wrong with being herself. She is surprised to find out that her true friends don't care about her secret identity anyway. This is a cute love story filled with all the High School anxiety of being with who you truly like despite what others think. It really resonated with me and brought back memories of High School. Not a lot of books can do that.  If you are a comic book geek in any way, you will enjoy this book.  I'm not, but I can appreciate that world.  I have lots of friends, even a husband, that venture into that world in some degree.  I liked it mostly for the way it captured the social anxiety that high school can cause.  I remember feeling a lot of what Maddie felt.  It definitely hit a spot for me.  Overall it is a cute book with a good message.  A perfect summer read.  Give it a try.  Happy reading!

We Were Liars

I think I liked this book more than I would have if I knew more about it before I read it.  I received a free copy from the publisher months ago and completely forgot the premise long before I started it this week.  Going in with no expectations definitely allowed for a greater impact when the story unfolded.  This is one of those books that by telling you about it will ruin it for you.  I will tell you a few things though.  It is told from the point of view of Cadence (AKA Cady).  She is the oldest grandchild of an extremely wealthy, self-important man who loves to stir the pot of contention when it comes to his impending inheritance.  He owns his own island where he has built houses for each of his daughters.  The entire family spend each summer there together.  That is where the majority of this book takes place.  Cady and her two cousins Mirren, and Johnny, along with friend Gat have been inseparable since childhood.  The four, known as The Liars, pal around each summer.  In what they call Summer Fifteen, events unfold that will forever change all their futures.  I thought that Cady was a very unique narrator.  Her brand of storytelling was quite appealing to me, but I know that not everyone will agree with me.  So, just a warning, you may not be able to deal with her as a narrator.  I liked it because it was different than your classic teen voice.  I really enjoyed the characters.  The kids at least.  I could do without all the adults.  They were pretty awful, stereotypical rich people who care about money first and foremost.  Now this book may not be for everybody, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished.  To me that is something.  There are plenty of books I read that don't really leave an impact.  This one did.  So if you are looking for something a little different, give this book a chance, just don't read the description first.  You'll enjoy it more if you don't have any expectations.  Happy reading!

Flipped

Flipped is one of the first Young Adult books I ever read.  It is classified as that, but in reality it is probably more for middle grade kids.  The main two characters are in eighth grade, but it is a love story at the core, even if it takes place on the playground.  It is also the first book I can remember reading that has alternating chapters( narration switch), something I have come to love in books.  I guess I just enjoy getting to hear different perspectives on the events in a story.  It is not always successful, but Wendelin Van Draanen nailed it in this book.  Unlike most books with alternating chapters, this one mostly retells the exact same events from both perspectives.  It is hilarious.  Our two narrators are Bryce and Julianne.  The two meet in second grade when Bryce's family moves in next door to Julianne's.  She is instantly in love with him, and he of course can't stand her.  Bryce does things to try to dissuade her, like get a girlfriend he doesn't even really like.  Julianne, in turn, feels it is her duty to save him from said girlfriend.  At the heart of it, the two don't actually really know each other at all.  They are locked in a game of cat and mouse.  As they get older and get to know each other a little better, Julianne realizes she doesn't really like who Bryce turns out to be under the surface.  Bryce, on the other hand, starts to think Julianne is quite fabulous.  It is now up to him to prove to her that he is worth liking after all.  This book is just so cute and funny.  I think this author has a talent for mixing humor with real emotion.  She writes funny books that have a depth to them as well.  While this book is a love story, it also touches on family loyalty, friendship, standing up for what you believe and not being afraid to be yourself.  I have read it a handful of times and enjoy it immensely with each reread.  If you haven't given it a try yet, I highly recommend it.  It will bring you plenty of laughs as you see these two neighbors interpret simple events in vastly different ways.  Enjoy and happy reading!

Autism Awareness Month

I haven't read a lot of books involving autism, but one that always comes to the forefront of my mind is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.  This book is told from the point of view of 15-year-old autistic boy, Christopher.  My favorite part of this book is seeing the world through the eyes of an autistic person.  Getting to see how his brain works, how it perceives the world around his, and how he relates to others.  It was so eyeopening for me to get that better understanding, from the inside instead of from simple observation of autistic individuals in my life.  I read this book before I was even aware there was a spectrum and before I had ever heard of Asperger's Syndrome.  I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who had limited exposure to that world before reading this book.  I've seen Rain Man and various other shows/movies depicting autistic characters, but it wasn't until I was able to glimpse inside the autistic mind that I was truly able to understand their world just a little better.  This book is a work of fiction, but the author had years of working with autistic people as a reference into their minds.  This book shows how one little change in a person's life can really throw everything off balance.  How everyone's reality is different from that of others.  This month is all about becoming more aware of autism.  The prevalence is growing and I bet there is hardly anybody out there anymore who is not affected by autism in someway.  We all know at least one person on the autism spectrum.  If you want to understand them better, this is a great book to start you on that path.  While not every autistic person is the same, I bet at least one of Christopher's traits will hit home for you.  This is a great book to try out this month.  Happy reading!

The Penderwicks

April 10th is National Siblings Day in the USA.  It is a day to celebrate siblings.  I think The Penderwicks is the perfect book to highlight such a day.  It is the first book in a series of fun books, although it is my favorite so far.  It introduces us to a very fun cast of characters.  The Penderwick sisters are very different from each other, which at times causes a little drama.  But at the end of the day they are fiercely loyal and love each other very much.  Their mother is dead and they must count on each other to fill that empty role.  Their father is a very loving and wonderful man as well.  Now for the girls, first you have 12 year old Rosalind.  As the oldest, she is thrown into the role of looking after her sisters and therefore is forced to be responsible.  Next comes Skye, who tends to let her temper get the better of her.  Jane is an aspiring author, penning stories following Sabrina Starr on various ridiculous adventures.  She reminds me a bit of Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables).  Finally we have 4 year old Batty.  She loves to wear butterfly/fairy wings and is constantly accompanied by the loyal family dog, Hound.  Batty is an animal lover to the core.  When the Penderwick family rents a cottage on the grounds of Arundel manor for a summer vacation, the girls immediately find adventure and trouble.  To their delight, the snooty owner has a young son, Jeffrey, who is a kindred spirit in many ways.  They instantly become friends, and for Jeffrey and perhaps the girls, life will never be the same.  This book is light and full of fun.  It is a bit of a throw back to the innocent stories of old.  It truly is out of time.  The setting isn't necessary for the innocence of childhood and the adventure we can have when we use our imagination and enjoy the outdoors.  The characters are really entertaining and definitely kept me interested right through the ending.  The plot isn't super complex and the story isn't much more than a summer adventure, but that didn't make it less enjoyable.  After all, it did win the National Book Award in 2005, so obviously the appeal is not just in my head.  It is a great book to read alone or together as a family.  The Penderwick family is truly unforgettable and vastly entertaining.  Happy reading!

Gallagher Girls

I stumbled upon the Gallagher Girls series years ago.  I read the first book, thought it was cute and that was the end of it.  At the time it was the only book out in the series, and by the time the next book came out I had already forgotten about the series.  It wasn't until I read the first book in Ally Carter's other series (Heist Society) that I was once again reminded of her first series.  What actually made me get back into the Gallagher Girls books was a cross-over novella between the two series.  Double Crossed doesn't take place  until after book five, so I figured I better read these books first.  I was definitely happy I did.  These books, while a little fluffy and silly in the beginning, are so much fun.

Gallagher Academy is an elite,  private, all girls boarding school.  At least that is what it appears to be on the outside.  For the select few chosen to attend the prestigious school, it is quickly seen for what it really is: a secret sisterhood of spies in training.  On this day, International Tell a Lie Day, I figured this was the perfect series to talk about.  After all, spies' very lives depend on their ability to tell lies.  At the center of the stories is a group of girls: Cammie, Rebecca, Macey and Liz.  The roommates find themselves in the middle of all types of trouble throughout the series.  As they get older and as the series progresses, the books start leaving silly behind and start to get real.  The danger and reality of being spies in training and often the target of double agents, the group of friends learn to count on each other for their very survival.

The characters are lots of fun, not just the main four girls.  The teachers and family members, as well as others involved in their little world make these books a success.  One thing I love about these books is they are completely clean, except for some incidental violence that goes along with life as a spy in training.  They don't have any bad language or sex.  They are just good, clean fun.  I love that you never know who you can really trust.  At times you will suspect just about everybody of being a double agent.  Only sometimes will you be right.  The not knowing will definitely keep you on your toes.  To me the series just kept getting stronger as it went on.  That cannot be said for plenty of series I have read; in fact; there are some that I have never bothered to finish because I have lost interest in them.  This series kept me hooked until the very end.  I highly recommend this series, as well as Heist Society, which I wrote about in another post already.  Give them both a try.  I promise you won't be sorry.  They are a lot of fun.  Happy reading!

Don't Look Back

I received a copy of Don't Look Back from the publisher and couldn't wait to read it.  Jennifer Armentrout is one of my favorite newly discovered authors.  She was recommended to me by a friend who has almost an identical taste in books as I do.  I pretty much like everything she has recommended to me, so I wasn't surprised to discover I liked this author.  This new book will be hitting shelves in just a couple weeks (April 15th to be precise).  This book starts out with a girl wandering on a mountain road, looking a little worse for wear.  When a police officer stops to check on her, we discover that she has no idea what happened to her.  Even worse, she doesn't remember who she or anybody else is.  We come to find out that Samantha has been missing for four days and her best friend, Cassie, disappeared with her.  As she gets reintroduced to her old life, we learn she is fabulously wealthy, is half of a society super couple, is the Q Bee of mean girls, and a total party animal.  She, of course, remembers none of that, and is quite frankly appalled by the lot of it.  She doesn't like her "friends," is vaguely repulsed by her "perfect," gorgeous boyfriend, and doesn't at all like the person she apparently was.  All Sam wants is to remember what happened to her.  She thinks that is the key to discovering what happened to Cassie.  As far as mysteries go, this book is a little thin.  The police investigation is happening off page.  Sam makes no real effort to regain her memory.  Nobody around her seems to really care about what happened to Cassie.  That whole story line is almost secondary.  However, the struggle that Sam goes through trying to decide who she is and what she wants, reconciling the new her with the old her and dealing with Dissociative Amnesia is quite engaging.  I really liked the whole idea of getting a do over.  Most people don't get the opportunity to have a clean slate, and I enjoyed watching Sam find herself.  Mixed in with the self-discovery is the fear that she is crazy.  She keeps hallucinating and finding little notes with clues as to what happened that fateful night.  Her memories are starting to come back in flashes that leave her wondering what's real and what's imagined.  I really enjoyed the characters, especially Sam, her twin brother Scott, and childhood best friend Carson, and Scott's girlfriend Julie.  Like I said, it was hardly an edge-of-your-seat thriller.  You still get a whodunit story, although the clues are there for the taking (it is not super obvious though).  I love a good mystery, but to me this was more of a character journey.  The danger element was missing for most of the book.  I didn't like it any less for that.  Strong characters are what I look for in books, and this one did not disappoint.  It also has an element of romance for those looking for that aspect (there is a little sex for those who are wondering).  This was well written and very enjoyable.  Overall, a good read.  I would definitely recommend it.  Happy reading!

Tuesday Talk: Better off Friends

A book I recently read and enjoyed a lot more than I expected was Better off Friends, by Elizabeth Eulberg.  Since finishing it, I have checked out a few of her earlier books from the library to see if they are also good.  I'll let you know what I think.  This book was 100% right up my alley.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love books that have a romance that springs from friendship.  The kind of relationship that forms during the friendship stage is always enjoyable to me.  In this book, Levi and Macallan were wonderful characters.  They met at the beginning of 7th grade.  Bonding over a mutual love for a quirky BBC TV show, they quickly became best friends.  This was a When Harry Met Sally type story for teenagers.  It was told in alternating chapters so you got to hear what both characters are thinking and feeling.  In between the chapters there are snippets of banter between the present tense Levi and Macallan, mostly responding to the previous chapter/story told about their past.  Those little narrations between the stories were lots of fun.  This was a fun love story with all the fun of falling in love but without the sex and language that a lot of books think they have to include.  Like I said, my kind of book exactly.  I highly recommend it.  The characters kept me very entertained.  I loved "watching" them grow up.  It was a fun, light read that I thoroughly enjoyed curling up with.  I think you will too (if this is your kind of book).  Happy reading!

Tuesday Talk: Stephanie Perkins

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I figured I would talk about some of my favorite love stories.  Today I want to feature teen author Stephanie Perkins.  She has two books out, the third releasing this summer.  The title of her first book, Anna and the French Kiss, put me off for awhile.  I thought it would be smutty, which is not my preference.  When I finally read the description/synopsis, I realized it took place at a French boarding school and that is where the title comes from (that and the love interest is a French boy).  I really liked the characters.  They were well rounded and flawed.  Anna and Étienne start out as friends, growing closer as life events bond them together.  Of course, she has feelings for him through most of the book, but he has a girlfriend already.  It is a cute love story.  I love books like this, where the romance builds slowly and culminates in a kiss.  Her second book, Lola and the Boy Next Door, takes place in California.  Lola is an eccentric girl who loves to dress up (not formal, but costume like).  Cricket is the boy next door who broke her heart when they were kids.  Now he is back in town and the two realize there is something unfinished between them.  It is another cute love story.  Lola is a very fun character, with all her eccentricities.  Cricket is a bit more of a mystery, but totally adorable and extremely likable.  Plus, a bonus for fans of the first book, Anna and Étienne are minor characters.  They have moved to California for college.  I find her books utterly enjoyable.  I am excited for the third book in the series, Isla and the Happily Ever After, which comes out in August.  Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy her books.  If this is your kind of book, give this series a try.  Happy reading!

Thursday Three: Music Themed YA Books

With the Grammys this past weekend, I feel like I have been surrounded by music talk.  I figured why not mention some of my favorite Young Adult books with music as a central theme or character.  They are all worth a read, even if you aren't a music fan.  I myself rarely listen to music and am not much interested in it in general (of course I married a musician so it is an unavoidable part of my life).  I'm saying that because I would never seek out a book because it has music at its core.  These are titles that I enjoyed based on the stories and characters themselves.  They just happen to have music woven into their plots.  Give them a try!
1. If I Stay
This is a story about the ultimate decision to stay or go.  Mia Hall is trying to decide between going to Juilliard/pursuing her cello career and staying home with her family and the love of her life, Adam.  Then, she finds herself with an entirely different decision: to live or die.  Most of the story takes place with her comatose body lying in the ICU, with her disembodied spirit as the narrator.  At the heart it is a love story: the love of music, the love of her family, the love of Adam.  Music is woven throughout the book in seamless fashion.  It is a teen book with depth and emotion.  I really liked this book.  It also has a sequel (Where She Went) told from Adam's POV.  It takes place a few years after this book and is equally good, if not better.
2. Define "Normal"
I just love this story about two girls, seemingly opposite in everyway, thrown together in a peer-counseling program at their high school.  An unlikely friendship, reluctantly forged, blooms between the two girls as they discover that they have more in common than they thought.  Antonia is a goody-goody that appears to have it all together (in truth her home life is a mess and she is barely holding herself together.  She is one step away from total collapse).  Jazz is a punk that appears to be a total mess, rumored to be a druggie, among other things (in truth she comes from a wealthy, happy family.  She is a very talented classical pianist--that is the music aspect of this book).
3. Just Listen
Anabelle faces the school year without any friends and a less than ideal home environment. Her long time best friend, Sophie, dropped her. Her sister is struggling with anorexia. At lunch she is drawn to music obsessed Owen, a loner with anger management issues. The two form a friendship and help each other overcome their issues.  The characters in this book are simply fantastic.  Sarah Dessen has a gift for writing great supporting characters.  Her main characters are wonderful too, but she excels at the quirky sidekick role.  This book uses music as a healing medium.  It helps Owen deal with his anger and Anabelle deal with her life. 

Tuesday Talk: Sarah Dessen

One of my all-time favorite Teen authors is Sarah Dessen.  I discovered her early on, when I was first discovering the genre (not too long after the genre was first created).  In my opinion, she writes some of the best, most interesting characters in all of teen fiction.  Each of her books tackles a real life problem/topic that teens (and adults) deal with everyday.  Most of her books are set in the same two places, with little Easter Eggs/cameos from previous books.  Besides the occasional hidden gem, there is really no crossover between titles.  They are complete stand alones.  In a world of series and trilogies, I find that refreshing.  Instead of waiting for the next installment to come out, I can just be excited about something new and fresh from her.  I'll be honest, my favorite books of hers are the middle ones (chronologically speaking).  Her first couple were decent.  Then, she seems to have found her stride.  Unfortunately, her most recent book (The Moon and More), was rather disappointing.  The one before that wasn't great either (What Happened to Goodbye).  I really hope she hasn't lost her magic.  Maybe I'm just getting older and outgrowing her books.  Since I was an adult when I discovered them, I doubt that is the reason.  I will continue to read any book she puts out though.  Like I said before, she writes fabulous and utterly unforgettable characters.  I love that she always writes flawed characters.  Each story follows a female character with problems (e.g. death of a parent, abusive boyfriend, anorexic sister, dysfunctional family, neglect, self-esteem issues, dad's new family).  Each story also has an equally flawed male lead (e.g. orphan, abusive father, anger-management, death of a friend, family problems).  These characters are often surrounded by oddballs and truly unique individuals.  Some of my very favorite characters are the friends.  What I like about her books is that they are life stories, with a sprinkling of romance.  They are stories with characters that fall in love, despite the fact it is the last thing they are looking for.  I like that they are not hot and heavy romances, but growing friendships that develop into romances.  Most of her books have only a few kisses, which is refreshing in a book industry heavily saturated with smut.  If you want to give her a try, I recommend starting with The Truth About Forever.  It is my favorite; in fact, it is one of my favorite Teen books.  I have read it probably four times.  I just love it.  I've rambled on long enough.  If you like love stories or are just looking for some fun characters to loose yourself in for awhile, I highly recommend giving Sarah's books a try.  Happy reading!