Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Released: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 359
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (a.k.a. witches, shape-shifters, and faeries). But then she discovered the family secret, and the fact that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie's a demon, one of only two in the world-the other being her father. What's worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will either destroy her powers for good-or kill her. 

But once Sophie arrives, she makes a shocking discovery. Her new housemates? They're demons too. Meaning, someone is raising demons in secret, with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they're using Archer to do it. But it's not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
Review:
This book made me really happy. I loved pretty much everything about this book. It reminded me of this dramatic, romantic movie. I could so see this being a movie! Oh, how fabulous would that be?

So let's get to it. Demonglass picks up about six months after Hex Hall ends, which ended with Archer Cross, her crush whom she had just made-out with, is a demon hunter, and Sophie had just been told that she was a demon. And she had just seen her demon-ghost great-grandmother thing kill her best frenemy. So yeah... things kind of suck in the Sophie Mercer world.

So it's May at Hex Hall, and her defense class is working on how to escape being thrown into a pond by Cal, who is this healing warlock who's only a year older than her and works at Hex Hall. Oh, and he's also her betrothed. To be honest, I never liked Sophie and Archer together, so I shipped them automatically. Cal is so stoic and he has this half smile thing going on, so it made me like the idea of them together. I figured that when her father, who's head of the council, wants them to go to Council Headquarters in London (her, Cal, and her best friend Jenna, a vampire), I figured that there would be a lot of heated Cal and Sophie time. But sadly, there wasn't.

NO. Instead she goes out with Jenna and the other two random demons Nick and Daisy and then The Eye (demon hunters) find out that Sophie is out and go hunting for her and Archer is there. Ugh. If only she stayed away from him like her father, and everyone else, told her to. Although it was a good thing that she saw Archer because she found out about some sketchy stuff going on at Hex Hall. 

The only reason I didn't like it as much as I thought I would is because I felt like it was sort of slow. Like, everything was so necessary and I loved learning more about the Prodigium and her learning and what was going on at Hex Hall and all, but I just wanted some romance I guess, or something really big to happen. But when it finally happened, I loved every minute of it. 

Demonglass ends with a bigger cliffhanger than Hex Hall did. But that doesn't matter, since I have the third and final book in the trilogy, Spell Bound, over on my shelf. I'm excited to see who she ends up with, where Jenna is (oh, yeah, she went missing), who stayed alive, and how the war is going on (and The Eye started a war at Council Headquarters, too). I just can't wait whatsoever.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Released: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 372
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Review:
AH. 

I don't know how to review this because it was literally just so perfect. So, so perfect. 

I literally felt like I was in France, honestly. And I had no idea what as going to happen after each and every page. I didn't call almost anything, besides Anna and St. Clair getting together. 

This is the hardest review I've ever had to write. It shouldn't be this hard to write a review.

Okay. So I obviously adored this book so much. The beginning was okay. I didn't really like Toph at all, and didn't see his significance until the Bridgette thing happened. I looooved the friendship of St. Clair and Anna, especially around Thanksgiving, and even more so at Christmas. I hated that his mother got cancer and I hated his father even more so, for obvious reasons (at least if you've read the book it's obvious). I loved the fact that everyone was in love with St. Clair, including Anna's best friend, Meredith. I didn't like the fact that we only got to see a chapter of the two of them dating.

That is my only complaint, really. I wish that they dated sooner on in the book so that we could get to know their relationship better. Granted, I guess things really didn't change all that much except for the fact that they started making out a lot, but I still wanted to know... you know? I want to know about how the friendship between Bridgette and her is going. How college is. How St. Clair's mother is doing, and don't forget about Anna's little brother, Seany. Kid was adorable with his Star Wars obsession.

Either way, everyone should read this book because it is perfect, perfect, perfect.

Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Released: May 10, 2005

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf 

Pages: 185

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance. 

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

Review: 
This is one of the most original books I've ever read. For starters, this is the first book I've ever read that the main character is gay. It's always the friend, right? There are a ton of gay people. I'd say more gay than straight. And the quarterback also a drag queen and homecoming queen. Paul's known that he's gay since kindergarten when his teacher wrote it on his report card. I want to clarify that I have no problem with any of this. I was in the GSA at my school and I'm an avid supporter for equality. I just found it so original and I loved it so much.

The story was really good, too. Paul and his two friends, Joni and Tony (Tony's gay and his super-religious parents hate it, Joni is straight), are at a bookstore. And then all of the sudden, in comes Noah. I'm jealous because I'm pretty sure every book lovers' dream is to meet someone special at a bookstore. Noah's pretty new into town, and that's why they haven't met yet. They hit it off automatically, obviously.

There's random drama in there between Joni and everyone that I found unnecessary and kind of annoying, honestly. And, of course, right when Paul and Noah start to date, Paul's ex-boyfriend Kyle wants him back. That also irritated me, but I guess there had to be some sort of drama, because it's a book and the couple always break up before the end of the book.

I did like the characters, though. Paul is so confident. Noah is so artistic. Tony is so nervous, but brave and courageous towards the end. Joni is a bitch, to be honest. Infinite Darlene is so sweet. Kyle is confused, with his own rights, poor guy. Paul's family is perfect and so great, honestly. What other parents can make pancakes in the shape of states or countries?

I'm really excited that I loved this book because I really want to get into Levithan's books. So you better be ready for more reviews of his books because I have three other books by him that I'm going to read relatively soon!

Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Released: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 341
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends—everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she’s somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it’s like to grow up unwanted—to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she’s sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It’s harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy—or as difficult—as it seems.
Review:
I had such high hopes for this book. I mean, it has a 3.95 average rating on goodreads, and everyone I've talked to said that it was such a good book, oh my god, I have to read it right now. And I just didn't like it at all. I guess I did somewhat, since I did finish reading it, but every time I would look at what page I was on, and find myself wishing that I was closer to the last page so I could just finish the book already. 

I just didn't like any of the characters, really. I didn't like how rude Jill was. I get why she was, but still. She warmed up by the end, because she got a new boyfriend and everything (okay, I liked Ravi a little bit, fine), but in the beginning she was just such a jerk, honestly. I would have to say that I liked Mandy the best, though, but at the same time I didn't. There was just something about her. I guess I just felt bad for her, honestly. She had such a bad life before she left Council Bluffs. Dylan, Jill's original boyfriend thing, just... I just couldn't with him. There was something about him that made me think that he liked Mandy more than Dylan, which is another reason why I didn't like Jill, because she started to like Ravi, but that's beside the point. Dylan also helped Mandy almost leave Robin's (Jill's mother) house, and even gave her all of his savings. I don't understand that. 

The writing style was okay. It was a two person point of view, which was okay and everything. I'm used to it sort of, but I'm not it's biggest fan. I liked getting to be in the mind of both girls, seeing their different but same lives.  That was really the only thing that kept me interested in the book. And the fact that I hate not being able to finish a book. There's only been five books that I've never been able to finish, but that's also beside the point. 

So many people on goodreads say that it's was so emotional, so captivating, that they cried, blah blah blah. Most of the reviews are four and five stars. I don't get how it was that good, honestly. And it makes me really sad, because this was my first Sara Zarr book, and a lot of people say that she's a good writer, too. And I believe it. On my to-read list that I'm going to read before my first classes start, is Sweethearts. So hopefully I'll like that one, at least. 

Review: All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

Released: May 21, 2013

Publisher: Viking

Pages: 240

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

Review: 
Since I'm reviewing All I Need, this means that I finished  rereading all of Colasanti's books. Like I keep saying; I love me some Susane Colasanti. Totally my fave author, and one of my biggest inspirations.

But since I have reviewed all of Colasanti's books, I'm going to make this quick. I love her writing style, I love the quirkiness and little things of each and every character, I love how each character has their own voice, and how past characters make an appearance in newer books,  et cetera. Oh, and I love the roller rink, Wheels in the Skye. It's an 80's themed roller rink and I wish it were real.

So here we go: what I didn't like. I'm not a huge fan of the whole two-person-point-of-view thing. I kind of hated that they had to be separate for a year, but I guess it added to the whole thing about how soul mates will always find each other. Colasanti said multiple times that this story would be so  full of romance, and in reality, it wasn't, at least in my point of view. I hated the random, and what I felt unnecessary, girl drama between Skye's two best friends. I don't know. I guess I was sort of expecting to be a Nicholas Sparks-eqsue sort of novel, and that was the problem.

But the one thing I didn't like definitely doesn't matter as much as the list of things I do love about All I Need.  It's also definitely a summer read, since there is a portion of it set at the beach. So, woo! Perfect timing.

Review: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Released: October 20, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 230
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.

Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.
Review:
I was pretty disappointed with this book. To be honest, I thought it was lacking. I have this place in my hearts for books about depression or suicide, and I guess I sort of have this expectation and that they're going to be heart-wrenching and depressing and what not.

It started out like that. Caitlin was definitely depressed herself. She didn't care what she looked like, she ate less, she would sit in her car and just fidget with her hands all the time. She was so upset that for some reason, I had this gut feeling that Caitlin was, like, in love with her. And my suspicions rose when she became friends with the new girl Dylan, who also happened to be a lesbian. But she wasn't.

So anyways, she finds Ingrid's journal under her bed, which ends up having her suicide note---the one that nobody knew existed. And it's like all of the sudden everything gets better just because she finds this journal, just after she reads one little entry. Like, she starts building a tree house  she makes other friends, one of the popular boys likes her, she gets back into photography.... Like, I'm happy that Caitlin is getting better and everything, but it just seemed to sudden and rash. It irritated me. That was pretty much what ruined the entire book for me.

What I did like, though, was the principle of it. And LaCour's writing style. And I liked how it had a few illustrations, too. It's not that often YA novels have illustrations in it. Granted, they were Ingrid's journal entries and everything, but I still found it kind of cool. So she gets props for those things, at least.

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Released: March 2, 2010

Publisher: Hyperion

Pages: 323

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Review:

Let me say this: I never really got into the whole fantasy/paranormal-esque types of books. Sure, I've read Twilight and Harry Potter and everything, but I just can't really get into anything that involves vampires or werewolves or dead people or anything like that. So, I was reluctant to read this book.

Also let me say this: I read this book in maybe five hours. I couldn't put this down. And when I finished it, I immediately bought Hex Hall (this was a book from the library), along with the next two books in the series, Demonglass and Spell Bound, and stalked Rachel Hawkins' website/blog and followed her on twitter and read maybe half of her blog posts. (I was sad to find out that she doesn't updated it anymore. BUT she does have a tumblr and likes Doctor Who, so everything is okay. Obviously, I instantly followed her on there as well.) I considered buying the spin-off novel, School Spirits, but I want to make sure that I like the last two books since I haven't met the character that it's about yet. And there's supposed to be a short story with it,  A Very Hexy Valentine's Day, but I'm not sure where to get it. I'll have to tweet to Hawkins later, hehe. Any excuse to tweet to a new favorite author ;)

So. Yeah. I fell in love with this book. I'm not sure what it was about it; the fact that it's about witches (I do have this weird liking to anything witch-y/psychic-y/things like that that people call me crazy for) probably had something to do with that.  I found everything just so... addicting. And interesting. I loved learning about the past with The Eyes, and finding out that someone Sophie falls for isn't who she thinks she is, and that Sophie herself isn't what she thinks she is. 

Hawkins pulled plot twist after plot twist out of her ass, I am just saying. At least it felt like it to me. And I think that's what made me love it even more. It kept me on my toes and kept me not wanting to put it down. I mean, when two people almost die in a span a few weeks, and someone you're related to is because of it, shit is obviously going to go down. 

And I was also drawn to her writing style. Maybe it's because I'm a writer myself, but I always judge authors based on their writing style. Sorry not sorry.

I loved it, I loved it, I loved it. I loved Sophie; I loved the cover; I loved that it was about witches; I loved the romance; I loved how it still had high school problems, even though this sort of reform school has faeries and werewolves and shifters, and a vampire; I loved how there was still some normal-ish family problems; I loved everything single bit of it. I literally cannot think of one thing at all that I didn't like about it. And that's saying something because I love to critique things. So, props to you, Rachel Hawkins. Somehow you have slithered up on my list of favorite authors. You go, girl! 

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Released: December 1, 2011
Publisher: Scourebooks Fire
Pages: 281
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Review:
I. Loved. This. Book.

I could only think of one complaint about this book, one little thing that I didn’t like, and that’s the fact that Tyler Green pissed me off. I get why he’s so controlling. I mean, I would be too if my dad was killed in a car accident, also leaving my mother paralyzed. But he just came into the Hundred Oak’s school and expected everyone to follow his orders, including Jordan. I also thought the relationship between Jordan and Ty was so unnecessary. It’s one thing to be distracted because he’s so hot and everything, but I feel like the relationship was so unnecessary.

What I also didn’t like was that realistic for Jordan to freaking sleep with him the day after kissing him for the first time. And also that three days after that, all of the sudden she’s in love with her best friend, Sam Henry, and it was only because she found out that he loves her. That irritated me, too.

Otherwise, I loved this book. I loved that Jordan, who had always been one of the guys, finally realized that she truly wasn’t one of the guys, but that she also wasn’t going to let anyone, even her dream school, tell her that she can’t play football because she’s a girl.

That’s what I think this book is so great. Kenneally writes about the fact girls shouldn’t let people put them down just because they’re a girl. Nobody should let people put them down because of something like that. It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy, fat or skinny, tall or short, gay or straight, black or white, et cetera. As long as you’re doing something you love, it shouldn’t matter. Don’t let people put you down because of anything.

And that is why this book got 4.5 stars from me. Jordan stood up for herself. She wasn’t going to let Ty tell her what to do, who to hang out with, that she should stop playing ball. She wasn’t even going to let her own father tell her to stop playing. Jordan stood up for herself because she loved what she was doing and it shouldn’t matter that she’s a girl. If only everybody could be like that. It's a great lesson.

PS: I don’t know what it is about the cover, but I just love it so much. Although, I can’t help but wonder who the boy is that is holding Jordan’s hand: Ty or Henry?

PPS: I can’t wait to read Stealing Parker, which is the second book in the Hundred Oaks “series.” Kenneally says that it’s not necessarily a series, but it’s just that all of her books are set in Hundred Oaks, a fictional town in Tennessee, and we can also expect cameos of past characters. The third book to the companion novels, Things I Can’t Forget came out in March 2013. Her fourth one, Racing Savannah, will come out December 3, 2013. And I'm so, so excited.

Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Released: April 1, 2012

Publisher: Push

Pages: 332

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

Review:

I honestly have no idea how I feel about this novel, so this is really hard to review.  I wanted to like this so much. When I saw this book on the shelf, probably a year ago, and read the inside cover, I was so excited to read it. It sounded so good. And I got so excited when I saw that this was at the library when I did.

For starters, Vivian decided to write this in eight point of views. I repeat, eight point of views. The two girls from each grades, one ugly, one pretty. Eight girls. They all have their own problems, despite the list. And let me tell you, Vivian decides to go there. One girl struggles with anorexia, for example. And all of the girls do grow somewhat over the course of the Homecoming week.  But majority of the time, the characters really annoyed me. Even the minor characters, like Andrew (Danielle's boyfriend) and Fern (Abby's older sister). I think the only character that didn't annoy me was Lisa, Abby's best friend. And that's probably only because she literally had maybe seven lines in the entire 332 page novel.

There was a major plot twist in the end, though, which definitely made it worth reading the entire thing. It was so surprising, and I just loved it. And it really explained a lot, too. Not that I can spoil anything for you.

Besides the whole eight point of view thing, I hated the fact that majority of the girls didn't really have an ending. Margo won queen, Jennifer didn't, Abby didn't go to the dance, and Sarah showered. But what about the other girls? Did Bridget's anorexia get better? Did Lauren's mommy (which by the way, what high school sophomore calls her mother 'mommy?') still pull her out of high school? Did Candace's friends accept her again? And what about Danielle? All we know by the end of the book is who won homecoming queen and who made the list, and why that person chose these eight people to be on the list. And that it why it received only three stars.

Review: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
Released: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 241
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis:When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

Review:

My favorite thing about this novel is that it's in New York City. It describes it so perfectly (actually, I don't know, I have yet to go) and Colasanti uses actual real places. Another thing I love about this novel is Brooke. I love that she's so smart, more than a genius, actually, but doesn't care. She just acts as though she's a regular student.

What I hate about this novel is how unrealistic it is. I highly doubt that a seventeen year old would actually move states to be with someone she loves, but he doesn't even know who she is. Doesn't even know her name; only knows that she likes origami. That just wouldn't really happen. Ususally Colasanti is good about making things so realistic, but this time she didn't.

What I didn't understand was when John told Brooke that he loves her, how she just took his hand, saying she would never let go, even though she had said profusely that she didn't have feelings for him. Arg.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS NOVEL, THOUGH, is the wish box. I love love love that! I lied; that is my favorite thing about it. I even got my own wish box after I read it the first time (a little over a year ago). Have any of those wishes come true, nope. But one day they will. I just know. Just like Brooke believes in The Knowing.

Something Colasanti is really good at doing is making each character their own. Minor characters, at least. Like I said in the Something Like Fate review is that Colasanti tends to write the same-but-different main character. But each minor character is different from anyone in any of her books. For example, John. He has a learning disability, but yet is still so driven. It's great. He's so inspirational (even Brooke said so herself). 

And don't get me started on April and Candice. Some friends they are. Hmph. I'm so glad that she found Sadie, or rather that Sadie found Brooke and pushed her into tutoring, which then had her meet John. And then realized that she needs to take pride in her genius-ness. Go Sadie; it's all thanks to her!

So Much Closer's paperback has a different cover than the hardcover. I'm pretty sure that this was Colasanti's first book to have a different cover when turned paperback. Here it is:

I definitely think this one is so much cuter. I just love the colors, you know? I wish it was on the High Line, though, which is what I'm assuming that the original cover is going for. 

Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Released: February 26, 2013

Publisher: St. Marin's Griffin

Pages: 320

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey

Synopsis: Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

Review: I'm going to be very frank here: I didn't like this novel. I'm pretty sure it's just the fact that it was written in third person, to be honest, because I loved the plot. I loved that Eleanor was a ginger. I loved that it was set in 1986. I loved that they liked comic books and listened to good music on their walkman. I like that Park was at first rude to Eleanor, just because everyone else was, and then he ended up falling in love with her. I could go on.

But, I could also go on about what I hated about it. Like I said, I hate that it's in third person. Third person just really bugs me for some reason. I can't write in it, either. Anyways, I hate that they're only fifteen. I hate that even though it's set in 1986, there's not really a mention of anything besides the walkman and the fact that comic books were coming out.  I wanted to know more about her stepfather; all we know is that he's an asshole, pretty much. I felt like Eleanor's character could have been a little bit better developed, just besides the fact that she dresses crazy and has a broken life. And last but not least (at least that I'll talk about) is I hated the ending. It was such a rushed ending, in my opinion. Tragic, yes. Good, no. It's like Rowell was just on a deadline or something. And it was semi-unrealistic, too. What sixteen year old is going to drive five states away to bring  their girlfriend to another house. I mean, with the circumstances, yes, but his father wasn't even mad. Like, um? What kind of parent is that? 

Sometimes I feel bad that I didn't like this novel. Everyone I knew, from my real friends from school, book bloggers, goodreads reviews, etc, everyone loved this book. They said it was one of the best books they've ever read. And it's not even close to the best book I've ever read. I honestly can't see how anyone would say that, no offense to Rowell, or anything.  It was just not my cup of tea.

Review: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Released: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Viking
Pages: 268
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.

How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

Review:

Susane Colasanti tends to write somewhat the same story. Well, the same character, really, at least for her first four books. (Which in my opinion isn't bad; I personally love it, because there's always something different about each one of them.) There's a smart, artistic girl who likes to recycle, some more than others in each aspect. They're always down to earth, and they always want something real. They always believe in fate, or in The Now, karma, or something among those lines.

Lani, the main character, loooooves astrology, or anything like that. She and her best friend, Erin, take months at a time to study things like tarot cards, graphology, dream analysis, palmistry, et cetera. She also is president of the recycling club called One World. She believes in psychics, in fate, and that The Energy will always help you out, that it'll do things for you, send you signs, et cetera. I love Lani. She's probably my favorite Colasanti character because of how zen she really is.

But then she goes and falls in love with Jason, which really makes her think about her fate and everything. Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Apparently he and Lani hit it off before Erin and Jason were official, but didn't do anything about it. Blake, Lani's gay best friend, feels strongly about the fact that Jason and Lani are so into each other and they don't even realize it, and neither does Erin. Which is good, I guess, since when the summer begins (the novel starts off in April), Erin goes off to camp. For the entire summer. Which is so totally not good. It's an accident waiting to happen, and nobody knows it yet.

But before that, probably around the endish of May, Lani's horoscope says that she should take a risk when she normally wouldn't. Even the Magic 8 ball says so. So she goes to ask Jason if he likes her. But before she can even ask, he says that he does. Oh. Poor Erin. And all of the sudden Lani's all, "How could I do this to her? She saved my life." Which makes you wonder... What happened? (Since this is my third time rereading it, of course I know, but I'm not going to say anything until it happens.)

They were in an accident. It was said multiple times thus far (about 115 pages in). Pretty much it was raining insanely bad, a downpour. Erin's mom was driving the then ten-year-olds back from a Girl Scout camping trip. She said she could see anything, so she decide to pull over on the side of the road. But they hydroplaned  And then crashed into something. And then they were wobbling. On the lake. The one literally in Lani's backyard. Erin's mother was knocked out cold. The doors and windows wouldn't open. The car was sinking. They were drowning. Water was somehow in the car already. Eventually the car was found, before they did drown. Of course that was how Lani got the scar, she must have hit her head in something. It only said that it was in the accident. Erin's mom was okay, and so was Erin. They were completely fine. And Erin and Lani were then soul sisters for life.

So then off Erin goes to camp. Jason breaks up with Erin via letter. Jason and Lani end up being together, of course. Blake is the only one who knows. The entire summer is them sneaking around, since they can't been seen in public, because they don't want Erin to somehow find out from anyone not them and in a letter.

I just gotta say: I love when authors say the title of the book in the book. It just gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling on the inside, you know? Okay, so maybe you don't know. Sorry.

So school starts and Jason tells Erin that they're together and Erin forwards the email, changing it a bit, telling everyone that Lani is a slut and Lani gets shunned and Blake is outed and he hates Lani cause she accidentally told Jason earlier in the book and everyone starts bullying Lani. (Wow, now that was a run-on sentence!)  And it's so bad.  Girls are vicious bitches, even in The Book World, sadly.

At this point, Jason and Lani aren't seeing each other. She promised Erin she wouldn't so that they could still be friends, even though Erin is treating her like crap and isn't even talking to her, and then there's this website saying "we hate sluts" and it's only a picture of Lani. I don't see why Lani doesn't realize that Erin isn't holding up her end of the deal and that she doesn't deserve to be treated like this, even if it wasn't her who started the website. 

Blake gets kicked out when his father finds out that he's gay and he has to go and live with his uncle 45 minutes away, poor kid. But him and Lani are friends again because she stood up for him when his locker was vandalized. Blake ends up standing up for himself and he's happy. I'm glad that Colasanti wrote in a gay character. I haven't read that many books where even a minor character is gay, let alone gay and out. It was also risky, let's be real. Even if it's fictional literature, I'm sure some people gave her crap about writing about a gay boy. (Which is ridiculous and saddening.) Props to Colasanti.

This is my top three favorite Colasanti books. Well, in the three-way tie for first place (along with Waiting for You and When It Happens). It's because this story, it's so true, it's so high school. The amount of times I remember hearing about some slut who stole their best friends boyfriend, or even the douche who stole their best bud's girlfriend (happened right at graduation, poor guy). People always spread rumors, make the two people feel bad, whatever. It's just so real. It's the realest novel Colasanti has ever written in my opinion. And that's why it gets five out of five stars.

Who know what makes this book even better? This:

HOW FABULOUS IS THIS? Susane, The Energy loves you and will continue to do great things for you.

You can check out my review for When It Happens here, and be on the lookout for All I Need.

Review: The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

Released: March 25, 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 298

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Indigo Skye feels like she has it all - a waitress job she loves, an adorable refrigerator-delivery-guy boyfriend, and a home life that's slightly crazed but rich in love. Until a mysterious man at the restaurant leaves her a 2.5 million-dollar tip, and her life as she knew it is transformed. This is the story of a girl who gets rich, gets lost, and ultimately finds her way back - if not to where she started, then to where she can start again.

Review:

Here we go, starting another Caletti book. I'm honestly quite nervous about it. But at least it has low expectations, so it can't suck too bad.

And let me say these three words: I like it. I actually like it. Something about it drew me in instantly, which makes me happy, because I wanted to like Caletti. So it was just the wrong book I read first is all. I'm glad I gave her another chance.

So the main character is named Indigo. She has a twin brother named Severin and a little sister named Bex. Caletti really likes these odd names, doesn't she now? I've also noticed that Caletti likes to drag everything on. It took 103 pages for anything real to happen, which is pretty much when Indigo got the tip from Vespa Guy. Which, by the way, it took over twenty pages for Indigo to actually open the envelope. Ugh.

That's what I don't like about Caletti's writing style: she draws everything out way too long. Granted it doesn't need to be right away, but if it takes over 100 pages for the plot to start, I find that ridiculous when the book is less than 300 pages itself.

So what I don't understand is why Vespa Guy (Richard Howards, you later find out) gave Indigo a 2.5 million dollar tip. He was mysterious and obviously troubled, since all he does at the diner is order coffee and stare out the window. Indigo tells him that she does care, we find out that he has a crappy job where nobody cares about him, and he decided to make a lifestyle change when it comes to jobs. So I don't understand why he gave her 2.5 million dollars. (Later you do find out why, but I think that reason is so ridiculous and it would never really happen...ever.)

And all of the sudden Indigo's mom tracked down Richard Howards and found out that he's in Maui, and now she has to go find him and give him the money back. This book is so unrealistic it makes my head hurt, even though it is a good story.

Time for me to be honest: I'm just not sure what I think about Caletti. It's topsy turvy, my feelings about her and her writing style and her plots and what not.

So they find out where he lives. He's not home, so they go on this ten page useless adventure that was not necessary at all, and then they find Richard at this restaurant. And he and her dad talk, and they understand the stress they were under, and Indigo keeps the money. Lucky her.

I surprisingly got into the book instantly when Indigo started spending the money. I mean when I picked the book back up after dinner, I was page 130 whatever and then all of the sudden I'm at 180 whatever, and it only felt like ten minutes.

I found myself really hoping that Indigo would change so quickly, become a bitch, somehow spend all the money. But instead she ran off to Malibu with her best friend Melanie after randomly quitting her job at the diner, just because her boss said she should think about some time off, and because she had a fight with Trevor, her boyfriend. Girl needs to learn that you can't run away from your problems just because you're filthy rich.

So. Much. Redundant. Information. The last 50 pages of the book was so useless and it was obviously just filler stuff so that Indigo could realize that the money changed her and everything and blah, blah, blah. But the story was decent, et cetera. It was a lot better than The Secret Life of Prince Charming, god bless. I liked the plot so much, even though it  so unrealistic. So it receives 3.5 starts from me, yay.

There's a different cover for this book, for the paperback, I assume. I actually really like the second one a lot better, but I don't like how the cover doesn't really bring out any part of the story. Shouldn't the model's hair be crazy like it ins in the book? Maybe the background Lake Pine, or the restaurant or Maui? Either way, I'm just not feeling the whole colored sectioned off part of the original covers with the title and author, how all of her earlier books are. Here's the second cover:

Review: Struck By Lightning by Chris Colfer

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal by Chris Colfer
Released: November 20, 2012
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Pages: 272
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey
Synopsis: Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips, who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. At a time when bullying torments so many young people today, this unique and important novel sheds light with humor and wit on an issue that deeply resonates with countless teens and readers. 

Review:

Let me confess this: I love Glee. Well, I loved the first two seasons of it. After Rachel, Finn, Kurt, and everyone graduated, it went down hill. I also love Chris Colfer. I'm actually related to him. So I'm excited that I finally got to read this book of his. And of course I'm reading it before the movie, which looks fabulous itself.

The book is a journal from the main character's, Carson, point of view. He starts off saying that he can't wait for college (Northwestern) and can't wait to be a freelance journalist. Since I was in yearbook in high school and I love writing, I automatically, only one page in, was in love.

I feel Carson's pain. I hate my small town that I live in. I want to get out and live life in a big city. I'm extremely ambitious. I've known what I've wanted to do since I was eight, and people always give me that look like, "oh-kaaaay. Good luck with that." I am Carson. (Does that mean I'm Chris Colfer?)

So Carson's really bad school counselor called Northwestern to see how his application was doing, right? They said that he has to something else, that school newspapers and writing clubs aren't good enough. So he tries to start a literary magazine. Except nobody wants to join. So guess what he does?

He blackmails people. Seven people to be exact. The yearbook editor that sends racy photos online, the cheerleader and football coach that are sleeping together, the satanic goth girl whose parents are bible freaks, the druggie, and the two closet gays that he caught making out in the bathroom. And let me tell you: it works. And he also gets more people to join, since he got the queen bee to join.

The thing about Struck By Lightning is that it's told in a journal style. I'm pretty sure it's because this was based off of the screenplay version that Colfer also wrote. And that would make sense. But either way, it's original this way. How often do you read a relatively new YA novel written in journal entries? Answer: Not often.

So over time, people actually do turn in submissions. Carson even gets to know Malerie, Vicki, and Justin a little bit. And it's nice to know that in the midsts of his blackmailing that he's somewhat making friends for the first time in high school. It's obvious that that's how it'll turn out, that he made some friends.

Carson was accepted into Northwestern, but later denied because his mother threw away his letter. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Her excuse was the she didn't want him to get hurt. That dreams never come true. EXCUSE ME? You never throw away someone's future like that, literally. I got so angry at the book that I almost threw it across the room. But that would've been rude to the book and Chris Colfer, so I didn't.

The ending is the biggest plot twist ending of a book I have ever read and I could go on forever about how much it pissed me off. The rating is docked an entire star because of it, oh my god. Chris Colfer, what were you thinking?

I just hope that the movie's good. Speaking of the movie, here's the trailer:

Chris Colfer? He has the funniest, best quotes in this book ever. Like I could sit here and pick out ten in five pages I would quote often. It's great. My favorite quote from the entire book: "'It's one of the most amazing experiences, finding something to write about, or realizing something for the first time. It comes out if no where and just hits you. Then it's all you can think about and it goes through your body and tries to escape and be expressed in any way possible. It's a lot like... Like...' 'Lightning?' Malerie asked me. 'Yeah,' I said. 'Like lightning.'"

Because of Colfer's originality, semi-realisticness (I'm pretty sure that's not even a word, but I don't care), and how questionable this novel is, the original rating is 4.5. Blame the ending for why it became a 3.5.

Review: The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

Released: April 7, 2009

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 322

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey

Maybe it was wrong, or maybe impossible, but I wanted the truth to be one thing. One solid thing.

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. Between her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother, Quinn hears nothing but cautionary tales.... Read the rest of the synopsis on Goodreads.

***

NOTE: This review will have spoilers. I apolgize if you haven't read the book. Also, the review will be quite long and goes in order of the book, as I wrote it while I was reading it.

It took me way too long to read the seven page first chapter, because it was honestly way too descriptive. It was honestly ridiculous with how descriptive it was. Especially for the first page. 

 BUT it did throw something interesting in the end of the first chapter: that Quinn, the main character, steals from her father's house, even though she knows it's not a good thing.

Speaking of good things, Quinn knows good things. She knows that she should like math, that she should invite the outcast to her birthday parties to be nice, that you should drive carefully and always like your family. It meant taking careful steps. She also knows that "good choices" are pretty much just other people's choices. Which makes it interesting that she steals things from her father. If she's so good and careful about everything, why do that?

Once again, it seems as though Caletti is way too descriptive and likes run on sentences. I don't need to know each and every toy Quinn's little sister, Sprout, stuffs in her hat for the train ride, and a description of what she does on said ride. It made me dislike her writing style only eight pages into the book. It was just so descriptive that I felt like I had to focus way more than I should have had to.

There was lots of not relative information. Like, way too much of it. Like the bold and italic paragraphs talking about past loves, from the point of view of Frances and Dorothy. I was so confused when these came up. I just found it so unnecessary.

It wasn't until around page 25 that I actually got a smile and semi-enjoyed this book for the first time. It was because of the quote, "...so I stayed downstairs because there was more privacy there. I wouldn't have wanted anyone to hear all the passion and desire and sexual longing in our conversation. How was you day? Fine, great. How was yours? Oh, pretty good.'" I'm just a sucker for any kind of sexual joke, even if it sucks (no pun intended), and extreme sarcasm.

My favorite character in this book was definitely Sprout/Charles/Charlotte. She was only ten or so, maybe older or younger by a year or whatever, I honestly don't remember, but she was so spunky and sarcastic and I loved her. She was mature for her age, yet not at all. She was the bratty little sister. She was just great.

Reading the bold/italics made me confused. Like what does this have to do with anything? Pretty much every female character (so majority of the characters) would eventually all have these sort of diary entry things. So many that I time to time forgot what went with who. Eventually  it finally dawned on me that the bold and italics is every woman that Barry, the father, stole from. Talking all about their love life before Barry came into play. But then why ate Quinn's aunt and grandmother and half-sister in there?

And all of the sudden, Nice Guy Daniel cheats in Good Girl Quinn, ruining her thoughts on how a guy could be different. Quinn, even though she said multiple times that she didn't like or love Daniel, is decently upset over their break up. I guess it's because she thought she was going to prove her family right, that there are good guys out there, blah, blah, blah.

 At one point, Calletti wrote: "That wasn't helping. 'This isn't helping.' I said." Like no. Stop. Don't be so repetitive like that.

So all of the sudden Quinn and sprout and Frances Lee (I hate how they would always call her by her full name. It just got really annoying really quick.) are going on this quest to bring back everything their father has stolen from the women he's been with to each woman. So they're going to like seven different places, right The first stop is Frances Lee's house, to give Joelle a painting back. (Frances is Barry's daughter from first marriage with Joelle.) And they have to give this guy, Jake Kennedy, a ride to Portland, since they have to go there anyways. And the first time Quinn meets Jake is in the middle of the night in the bathroom, where she is half naked, and he is, well, fully naked. Can you say awkward? And then the next morning they're all eating breakfast when Jake walks in and says, "This is what I look like with clothes on." And I literally cackled it was so funny. So finally, on page 179 out of 320, this book got good and I decided that I somewhat liked it.

So of course they're done with the quest, they're about to leave the last woman's house (which also happens to be the woman that Barry cheated on Quinn's mother with and left her for) when France's car breaks down and the engine is shot. So they have to give up and call their mother, who thought they were in Disney Land the entire time, and get a ride. And then BAM her mother, the one who has been against men for ten years, has fallen in love. Which kind of ruined the entire plot, in my opinion. Like why have every woman fall in love when they've been so against it for so long?

So it ends with her dad getting married (????) and not really responding to how Quinn yelled at him and stole his things (also ????) and she starts senior year and her and Jake are still together and she's all, "Jake was seashell right." I don't even know what the heck that means. Is that a phrase that I've never heard before? Whatever.

Yeah. The ending sucked. Then again, the beginning sucked, too. So did the middle. There were really only certain parts of it that I liked. Pretty much whenever Quinn and Jake would have a moment, or they would return something to one of the women and we'd learn about their relationship. Otherwise, the book was horrible in my opinion. So, I give it  2.5 stars. Sorry not sorry.

PS: this was my first Caletti book, so I'm really disappointed. I thought it would be fabulous. But maybe I started off with the wrong one.

PPS: I really don't understand the title. I guess Barry is Prince Charming? But if so, the cover doesn't really work with it. I don't know. I just don't understand.

PPPS: I do, however, think that this would make a kick ass chick flick, since it's pretty much all against guys until the endish of the book, and there is a little romance in there. Blockbuster, make it happen.