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.

FANTASTIC NEWS!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

So, as you know (or at least may have figured out, or maybe not, whatever) that I run this blog by myself (Carey). I started this blog a little over a year ago, and then stopped, and picked it back up again when I got really inspired by my new book blogging friends. Recently I've been talking to my best friend, Krysta, who I've known since the fifth grade. And she told me that she wanted to make her own book blog, but didn't want me to think that she was doing it because I was doing it. SO, I asked her to join me!

A few things might be changing. Like, maybe the URL. A few things on the side bar. Our taste in books is a tad bit different, but not by much. Our reviewing ways may be different, too. I will still be doing the Top Three Tuesday every other week, and maybe she'll do a Top Three Thursday in the alternating weeks, specifying that it's Krysta, not me, or something. She's also going to do random movie/TV/video game reviews, so it won't only be books now! Some other day things may change. We'll see how it goes.

Anyways, I'm super excited about this. Because who doesn't love books? Plus it's great to do this with my best friend.  So if anyone actually does read this, I hope you welcome Krysta on board!

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.

Carey's Top Three Tuesday!

This is something new I'm going to be posting, so that the only thing on this blog isn't book reviews. Every other Tuesday I will post three books that are on my to-read list and that I hope to read within the two week period. So, I hope this works out!

1. The Selection by Kiera Cass -- For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -- 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. 

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?

3. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan --  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: Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Title:Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti
Released: May 14, 2009 by Viking
Pages: 320
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents’ unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa’s ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school’s ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she? In Waiting For You, this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to “be in the Now” and realizes that the love she’s been waiting for has been right in front of her all along.

**

If Susane Colasanti does just one thing well and right (she definitely does more than just one thing well, though), it's the way that she makes her characters so original and different from each other. Waiting For You is Colasanti's third book, and the first one that has only one person POV. Even then, you can tell the difference in the minor characters (Sterling, Nash, Derek) and the main character (Marisa). Their attitudes, how they talk and present themselves, and quirky habits are personal to each character. And it's flawless.

Waiting For You starts off with fifteen-year-old Marisa just getting back from summer camp and having dinner with her best friend, Sterling. Just like in When It Happens, Marisa wants to sort of reinvent herself and find true love. She, just like Sara, has this idea of the perfect package in the popular hottie. Derek and Marisa end up dating, and things do go well for the first few months. He was her first kiss and boyfriend (cue the awwwwws). In the midst of things, her childhood best friend and lab partner Nash, who is totally not boyfriend material, forms a crush on Marisa, which makes things awkward for a while, which causes them to stop talking for a while. Sterling and Marisa are in a fight for a good portion of the book, just like any true best friends would be. There are problems going on at home with her parents, and her younger sister Sandra gives Marisa a hard time for being who she really is. In the end, everything turns out okay. Marisa is happy, she's healthy and is working on overcoming her depression, Sterling and her are no longer in a fight, and she finally found what she was waiting for.

Colasanti gets pretty deep in this one. Marisa struggles with anxiety and depression, and she definitely writes and plays it out just how it really is. Colasanti describes how she's spiraling down, how all she wants to do is sleep, and who cares about homework? It's hard to describe depression and anxiety. She was spot on with it. Props to her.

One of my favorite things about Colasanti is the writing style. She uses first person, but she uses it in a different way than most authors I've read. She'll use "say" instead of "said," for example. But she brings it to a whole new level. She makes it sound like character truly is telling the story and it brings in the character's personality because from time to time she'll write, "So I'm like, "blah blah blah." And I just think that's so original.

Susane Colasanti writes must-reads for teens, or anyone who reads YA. Not only do her books tell stories about young love, but they also deal with family life, friend problems, the senior year college anxieties, and pretty much any problems that are common today. She's a fantastic writer, and one of my biggest inspirations. Waiting For You just so happens to be my favorite book by Colasanti (thanks to the quirky, nerd, original Nash who has a fabulous alter ego , for many, many reasons. And that is why it receives five out of five stars.