Thursday, October 8, 2015

Cover Reveal: Spark by Holly Schlinder



Or so Quin’s great-grandmother predicted many years ago on Verona, Missouri’s most tragic night, when Nick and Emma, two star-crossed teenage lovers, died on the stage. It was the night that the Avery’s marquee lights went out forever.
It sounds like urban legend, but one that high school senior Quin is now starting to believe, especially when her best friend, Cass, and their classmate Dylan step onto the stage and sparks fly. It seems that magic can still unfold at the old Avery Theater and a happier ending can still be had—one that will align the stars and revive not only the decrepit theater, but also the decaying town. However, it hinges on one thing—that Quin gets the story right this time around.

Holly Schindler brings the magic of the theater to life in this tale of family ties, fate, love, and one girl’s quest to rewrite history.


















Author Bio:
Holly Schindler is the author of three previous YA novels: PLAYING HURT as well as the critically acclaimed FERAL (starred PW review) and A BLUE SO DARK (starred Booklist review, ForeWord Book of the Year silver medal, IPPY gold medal). A writer of books for all ages, Schindler’s MG, THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, has made the master list for children’s book awards in Illinois, South Carolina, and Alabama. She is also a hybrid author, having independently released comedic women’s fiction (FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS) and the forthcoming PLAY IT AGAIN, her adult follow-up to her YA PLAYING HURT. She can be reached through her author site: hollyschindler.com, and hosts special sneak peeks and giveaways for subscribers of her newsletter: tinyletter.com/hollyschindler.com.

Spark “Premieres” May 17, 2016, but you can buy your “tickets” now. Links to pre-order -
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Holly-Schindler/dp/0062220233/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443300868&sr=8-1&keywords=spark+holly+schindler
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spark-holly-schindler/1122566794?ean=9780062220233
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062220233
Add to your TBR list -
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26155766-spark

Thanks for reading and be sure to check this pretty out when it goes on sale! 
Jasmine

Friday, September 4, 2015

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon Review

Everything, Everything
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Review
I didn't know anything about this book before reading. This one definitely sucks you in and doesn't let you go. I loved this book to pieces. 

This tells the story of Madeline. She's basically allergic to the world. So she's lives in a bubble and is content with that. Things start to change as soon as Olly moves in. 

I have so much love for these characters. I loved Madeline's caring personality. I loved Olly's complexity. I loved seeing them get to know each other. They had an amazing relationship. I loved the way they grew as people together. They had an innocence to their relationship that I really enjoyed. 

Let me tell you I've never read anything like this! This story is absolutely amazing! I loved getting to learn something new with Madeline's disease. I loved getting to see the characters grow. This book has a lot of adventure to it. It's a very fun story. I couldn't put this down to save my life! I was so incredibly impressed by this story. I highly recommend checking it out! 

Jasmine

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith Review

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?
This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

Review
I'm a huge fan of this author so I had big expectations. I found this book to be much different than her other books. I very much enjoyed it! 

This tells the story of Clare and Aiden. Their about to move away to different colleges. To break up or to stay together has been on their minds for some time. They've only got one night left to figure things out. 

I thought the characters were good but they weren't great. I ended up enjoying Aiden more than Clare. I loved the way he pushed her and fought for her. Clare was a little too indecisive for me. She was way too back and forth! 

This book has an amazing storyline to it. I found it incredibly relatable. I loved how you couldn't predict the outcome at all. I loved all the fun adventurous aspects to it. Even though it was very fun, it still had its serious moments to it! I thought this story had a lot of meaning behind it. This was a one sitting read for me. I loved it to pieces! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Tonight the Streets are Ours by Leila Sales








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
Tonight the Streets Are Ours
Tonight the Streets are Ours by Leila Sales
Expected publication: September 15th 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
From the author of This Song Will Save Your Life comes a funny and relatable book about the hazards of falling for a person you haven't met yet.
Seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley is recklessly loyal. Taking care of her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But she's tired of being loyal to people who don't appreciate her—including her needy best friend and her absent mom. 
Arden finds comfort in a blog she stumbles upon called "Tonight the Streets Are Ours," the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter. When Peter is dumped by the girlfriend he blogs about, Arden decides to take a road trip to see him.
During one crazy night out in NYC filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn't exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn't exactly who she thought she was, either.

Sometimes you need a contemporary! I think this book sounds amazing! I've had some great experiences with this author so I can't wait to get my hands on this! 

Let me know what you guys would pick in the comments!
Jasmine

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Curious Tale of In-Between by Lauren DeStefano Review

A Curious Tale of the In-Between (Pram, #1)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Conference
First Book in the Pram series
Pram Bellamy is special—she can talk to ghosts. She doesn’t have too many friends amongst the living, but that’s all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.
Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram’s power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.
Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.

Review
I was so excited to read this! I'm a huge fan of this author. I thought this story was incredibly creative. I really enjoyed it! 

This tells the story of Pram. Her mother died giving birth to her and it's been said that she was depressed. Pram can talk to ghosts. She's been pretty uninvolved in the living world, until the day she meets Clarance. 

I really loved these characters. I thought they were very unique. I loved how brave and adventurous Pram was. I loved how comfortable she was with herself. She didn't care what people thought as long as she was happy. I thought Clarance was very sweet. I loved the way he cared and stuck by Pram. Felix made a fabulous side character. 

This story has a darker hint to it. But, it was still perfect for the age range. It was very fun and exciting. It has its fair share of suspense and mystery. I found it to be very unpredictable. There was some real life meaning behind it as well. Overall I thought this was a fabulous read. It had some amazing aspects to it! 

Jasmine

Monday, August 31, 2015

Reawakened by Colleen Houck Review

Reawakened (Reawakened, #1)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Conference
First book in The Reawakened series
When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

Review
I'm a huge fan of this author so I had way high expectations. This easily met my expectations. I thought it was incredibly creative and exciting. 

This tells the story of Lily. One day while visiting museums, she awakens a prince. Now that he's awake, she must help him find his brothers. The fate of the world rests in her hands. 

I really enjoyed Lily. I loved getting to see her grow as a person. I loved her strength and sense of adventure. I loved that she kept those boys in their place. Amok is a pretty complex character. I thought he was a great character but we didn't really get to see him on a deep level. He masked a lot of his feelings. I can't wait to see more of him and his brothers. 

This book has a very impressive storyline. It's action packed and exciting. It was packed with Egyptian facts and culture which I really loved. It was crazy unpredictable. I loved the saving the world good vs. bad vibe. I couldn't put this one down! I thought everything was very well done. I can't wait to continue this story! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
Everything, Everything
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Guys, I just read this book and let me tell you... it was AMAZING. I knew absolutely nothing about this going into it. It sucks you in right off the bat and doesn't let you go! I was incredibly impressed! 

Let me know what you guys are waiting on in the comments! 
Jasmine

Friday, August 21, 2015

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid Review

Never Always Sometimes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
Never date your best friend.
Always be original.
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken.
Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they’d never, ever do in high school. 
Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never dye your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he’s broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It’s either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember. 
Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they’ve actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

Review
I absolutely adored this story. It was super fun but still meaningful. The characters were fabulous and I couldn't put it down to save my life! 

This tells the story of Dave and Julia. At the start of high school, they made a list of nevers. 4 years later, they've decided to do everything on the Nevers list. 

I have so much love for Dave and Julia! They had the most amazing relationship. I loved the way they could do nothing but have fun doing it. They both had amazing personalities. I really liked getting to see them explore themselves and their feelings. It wasn't easy for them but they still did it. 

This story is pretty addicting. It has so many fun and adventurous aspects to it. It was super easy to relate too. I loved his unpredictable it was. There's a lot of love in this story. That was really my favorite part. There was also lots of family aspects. Overall I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was incredibly well done and I highly recommend it! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith







****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Poppy
On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they'll retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night will lead them to friends and family, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?
This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.

I'm a really big fan of this author! I know some people say every book is the same but I don't feel that way at all! This author is one of my favorite contemporary authors. I can't wait to get my hands on this pretty!
Jasmine

Friday, August 14, 2015

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith Review

The Geography of You and Me
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Bought
Stand Alone
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.


Review
This author has done it again. I absolutely loved this story. Everything was left up to chance. It sucks you in and never lets you go. 

This tells the story of Lucy and Owen. They end up stuck in an elevator. They spend one magical night together and go their separate ways. But a single postcard brings them back together. 

Lucy and Owen individually are amazing. They both have wonderful personalities. Their very easy to relate too. But, put them together and it's perfection. I loved getting to see them grow together. They helped each other in life and in their relationship. Things weren't easy for either of them. But they really made the best of what they had. 

This has an absolutely amazing storyline. It was super fun. It had its serious moments too though. I loved all the traveling. There was lots and lots of family aspects. This story had tons of cute moments. It never seemed overdone. I honestly smiled the whole time I was reading this. I couldn't put it down! It didn't quite beat out Jens last hook for my soviets but it was incredibly close! I highly recommend this pretty! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: A Curious Tale of In-Between by Lauren Destefano








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
A Curious Tale of the In-Between (Pram, #1)
A Curious Tale of In-Between by Lauren DeStefano 
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pram Bellamy is special—she can talk to ghosts. She doesn’t have too many friends amongst the living, but that’s all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.
Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram’s power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.
Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.

I really picked this one because I wanted to love on it! I actually just read this and I really loved it! I think it was a super fun, creative middle grade! It was a little darker but still perfect for the age range! 

Let me know what you guys are waiting on in the comments! 
Jasmine

Monday, August 10, 2015

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Liani Taylor Review

Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little Brown
Source: Bought
Third and final book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series
By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.
Common enemy, common cause.
When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.
And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.
But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.
What power can bruise the sky?
From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 
At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Review
I was so excited for this. This series has kept me waiting and wondering how it would wrap up. I was a little scared but this was a fabulous ending. 

Everything is up to Karou. She's rebuilding the chimera army in hopes of saving the world. But, it may not be enough. 

Karou really wowed me in this. She was amazing. She took what she was handed and made the best of it. She was determined to save the world. Nothing was going to get in her way. I was glad to see so much of Ziri and Akiva. I was also glad to see so much of Mik and Zu.  Karou had an amazing team behind her. Plus individually their all amazing characters. I was really glad to learn so much about the chimera and different things in their world. I loved all the bad guys! There was a great good vs bad vibe. 

For most of this story war is the plot. There was a lot going on closer to the end that was very confusing. I loved all the war aspects and all the actions. It was very suspenseful. I had no idea what to expect. This story was super fast paced. I thought it wrapped thing up well. I did find myself wishing there wasn't so much going on in the last bit of the book. It was very difficult to keep up with everything. Overall this really was a fabulous ending to a fabulous series. I really enjoyed it! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini









****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2)
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini 
Expected publication: September 1st by Feiwel & Friends
Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.
"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."
Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.
Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves

I don't remember much about the first book but I am a huge fan of this author. And that cover is absolutely beautiful so how could you not want to read this?

Let me know what you guys would pick in the comments! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
A Madness So Discreet
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Expected publication: October 6th 2015 by Katherine Tegen 
Grace Mae knows madness.
She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.
When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.
In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

This story sounds so incredibly dark and exciting. This author writes incredible main characters so I cannot wait to meet this one!

Let me know in the comments what you guys would pick! 
Jasmine

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday (86)




Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

This weeks topic is Top Ten Auto Buy Authors. Much love for this topic! I kinda jumped ahead with this topic! This one isn't actually for a few weeks but I"m gonna do it now :)
  1. Cassandra Clare. 
  2. Jennifer Armentrout.
  3. Maggie Stiefvator.
  4. Marissa Meyer.
  5. Lauren DeStefano. 
  6. Kiera Cass.
  7. Claudia Gray.
  8. Gayle Forman. 
  9. Sophie Jordan.
  10. Victoria Scott and Julie Murphy ( I know that's cheating but that's okay!)
Let me know what you guys would pick in the comments! 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Mary E. Pearson Giveaway!


Hey guys! We have two ARCS for you guys today! Heart of Betrayal is also signed! This one is gonna be U.S. ONLY. Please see the rafflecopter below :)





Jasmine
Marissa

Waiting on Wednesday: Winter by Marissa Meyer








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****



My pick this week is:
Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)
Winter by Marissa Meyer
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Feiwel and Friends
Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend–the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

This series is one of my absolute favorites. I feel like I've been waiting forever for this to come out. I am literally dying to know how everything is going to wrap up. It's safe to say this book will be 824 pages of awesome and I cannot wait! 

Let me know in the comments what you guys are waiting for!
Jasmine

Friday, June 26, 2015

Every Last Word by Tamera Ireland Stone Review

Every Last Word
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Disney Hyperion 
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. 
Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.
Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Review
Boy did I love this story! Guys this book is absolutely amazing in every way possible! There wasn't a single thing I didn't enjoy. 

Sam has a servers case of OCD that she's hidden from all her friends. One day she mets Caroline who introduces her to the Poets Corner. 

I really enjoyed Sam. I loved getting to see her discover new things. She really struggled and we got to see her overcome her problems. She was very easy to relate too. The Poets made the story for me. They were absolutely amazing secondary characters. I loved that they were such a family and so welcoming. 

This is a really moving story. Not only does it showcase someone overcoming a disease, it shows the power of good friends and words. I might be a little obsessed with this story. I just connected with it so well! I couldn't put it down to save my life. It was emotional while still being fun. It was super easy to relate too. It had tons and tons of cause behind it. I was incredibly impressed. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend! 

Jasmine

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell








****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:
Carry On
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Expected publication: October 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin
Rainbow Rowell continues to break boundaries with Carry On, an epic fantasy following the triumphs and heartaches of Simon and Baz from her beloved bestseller Fangirl.
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

We all know that Rainbow Rowell is amazing. I've been so excited for this story ever since I first heard about it. It sounds absolutely amazing!

Let me know in the comments what you guys are waiting on!
Jasmine






The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi Review

The Night We Said Yes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life. 
But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan.
And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.
Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future. 
In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and, ultimately, finding out how to be brave.

Review
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the concept so very much. It was super fun and cute!

This tells the story of Ella. One day Matt swooped into her life and made everything better. Another day he swooped out without a word. Now he's back and has lots of questions to answer. 

I didn't connect with Ella as well as I did with all the secondary characters. She was still a great character! I loved Matt. I loved getting to see everyone deal with their problems with him. This story had a lot of real life problems and character development. I really loved all the secondary characters in this story. They were so enjoyable! 

I found this story super unique. It had a lot of fun aspects and adventure. I loved the way the past and the present connected. This one was pretty hard to put down. I couldn't wait to see how it all wrapped up. It was very unpredictable. It ended up being a one sitting read for me. Overall to really enjoyed this story. It was the perfect summer read! 

Jasmine