Kiss It by Erin Downing

Synopsis:

A girl's gotta do who a girl's gotta do.

Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust?

Sebastian has no idea what he's in for—but maybe neither does Chaz?

Review:

I'll admit it. When I first decided to read this book, I thought it was one of the cute and cuddly variety. I mean, can you blame me? Sure the title's got some attitude, but then there's the cute bunnies and the fun color of the cover. Not to mention the synopsis I read sounded innocent enough.

The first page changed everything I thought knew about this book.

Let me say right now that the main character, Chastity (preferably known as Chaz) has spunk. She's definitely what you'd consider outspoken, which sometimes doesn't fit well with her conservative family, not to mention her conservative town. She's also very... shall we say eager?  When I read that Chaz wanted Sebastian (love the name, btw. The name automatically made me think he was a mystery) , I thought of them cuddling and kissing. Um, negative. Chaz wants Sebastian, and not in the Disney way. While her blunt, promiscuous attitude turned me off at some moments, I somewhat appreciated that. It made the situations more realistic. The awkward moment and times where I thought she probably shouldn't have said certain things made it all the more real. No one has a picture perfect conversation every time, so I appreciated that Downing realized and respected that.

What I appreciated most from this book was the fantastic investment in of what was going on outside of Chaz and Sebastian's relationship together. Some stories have a way of totally investing in the two main characters' relationship, and letting the side stories be minimal with no real need to remember them. Both Chaz and Sebastian have histories, and even more so, strong presents to deal with.

Overall, this was a pleasant, and definitely suprising, read. This book definitely reminded me that the phrase 'You can't judge a book by its cover' isn't a common phrase for no reason.

My Ratings:

Plot: B

Unique, but there were some lulls for me.

Characters: A

Fantastically deep. Great chemistry between them all.

Cover Art: B

I was never too in love with the cover to begin with, but its cuteness is a nice contrast to the plot.

Length: A

Ends realistically. No, not all questions are answered, but with the tone of the book, it's understandable.

A great read that was nothing like I expected, I give Kiss It:

Four Stars!

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Synopsis:

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy 

Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually 

came true. Because they never freakin’ do. 

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink  My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s 

supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same 

name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they 

MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is 

her best friend’s boyfriend

Review:

When I got this book, I was so excited to read it. I was ready for a light read. However, I was a little disappointed with this read. I'll say now that I seem to be in the minority for this read. I'll admit it is a fun read, but it was a bit too fantastical for me. 

I will say that I did appreciate Kayla. Going through all of her wishes in only a matter of days, she had to develop rather quickly. It made it really easy for me to understand her. She also had a likable spunk, which worked well in the book. 

There were also surprisingly deeper elements in the book, such as Kayla's relationship with her father. With the majority of the other elements being lighter, it put me a little at odds with the deeper moments. While I appreciated them, they almost felt like interruptions. I know life's not roses and Kayla is particularly unhappy with hers, in this otherwise light novel that was a bit out there, the deeper moments didn't fit to me. 

Overall the novel was funny and an easy read. For some reason I can't put my finger on, it just didn't sit well with me. Don't get me wrong, it had its moments. It just wasn't for me. Again, I'm in the minority with this.

Ratings:

Plot: B

Truly original. Very easy to get into. The elements just didn't mix well with me.

Characters: B

As there should be, there was a lot of emphasis on Kayla. However it left little time to get into the other characters.

Cover: C

Cute, but it doesn't really match the book. For one, the pony is bright pink. Also, there was a lot more emphasis on the cake rather than the cupcake.

Length:B

Though it was an easy read, I felt like there were moments where things were drawn out. I feel like a resolution could have been reached quicker. 

A book where all your wishes come true at all the wrong moments, I give You Wish

Three Stars!

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Synopsis:

"Personally, I’m tired of waiting for the universe to get off its butt and start fixing stuff. I don’t want to wait around for Mason to get what’s coming to him. Or Heather Campbell, for that matter . . . I want to be there to see it happen."
Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.
But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.
Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground

Review:

I was incredibly excited to get my hands on this book. It sounded original with a main character who sounded like they could take action. While I found both those things to be true, I was a little disappointed with the novel as a whole. 

Maddy was a fairly likable character. However, I found her to be a little too eager to be popular. At times she seemed somewhat obsessed Heather Campbell and her popular crew. While I'll admit this eagerness was demonstrated more so in the beginning of the novel, it was still off-putting to me since after reading the synopsis I had already envisioned her stronger than that. I was hoping for her strength again in the all too soon breakup with Mason, however I think I was hoping for this because I hadn't had enough time to truly understand their relationship. Maddy's infatuation with Mason was apparent off the bat, but I hadn't seen that from Mason yet.

The club itself was a unique idea, but a part of me found some of the revenge tactics a little too vindictive. I understood that their targets had indeed done them wrong and weren't the sweetest of people, however it was a bit too much for me. Their actions had the possibility of major repercussions, and that didn't sit well with me. 

My ratings:

Plot: B

Easy to get into, a little rushed towards the end

Characters: C

I little frustrating. It was hard to click with the characters.

Cover: A

Really cute. Love that the notebook is on the cover.

Length: B

Things seemed a little rushed at some points and slow at others,  but unfortunately at the wrong moments for me. (Ex. Mason & Maddy's relationship

A novel where everything happens for a reason (but not by itself), I give The Karma Club:

Three Stars!

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
Review:

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was when The DUFF arrived in the mail. I had heard so many great things about it, so my expectations were sky high. Of course we all know this could lead to a major disappointment- the chances were increasing that it wouldn't meet my high hopes. And it didn't.

It exceeded them.

I know there have been mixed reviews, so I'll say now that The DUFF may not be for everyone. But what book is? Books are essentially art, and we all know that not all art is for all people. That being said, I will say this book worked for me. Bianca is hilarious with a fantastic sarcasm. She made it really easy for me to get into the novel. I'll warn now that Bianca doesn't have the cleanest mount at times. However, I thought it added to her character. Bianca is full of angst, which she fully acknowledges (to a certain degree). Plus, Keplinger made her frustration understandable, which in turn (for me), made the cursing understandable- or at least not surprising. Cursing aside, Keplinger really made me feel like I knew Bianca. Even though I couldn't directly relate with everything, I could feel what she was going through. I connected. It's the best feeling- connecting with a character. It makes for great books.

Aside from Bianca, the storyline as a whole was fantastic. The synopsis honestly is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many twists and turns, the book as a whole was a wonderful roller-coaster. I cannot tell you the amount of times I was laughing during the novel, only to be in shock the next. Every character was developed well, and weaved in and out of the story at just the right moments. I don't think I could have asked for more from them.

All in all, I feel as though The Duff turned a new page for Young Adult books. Sure there are some classic YA moments and themes, but Keplinger has shined a new light. She delved deeper into the topics that are only lightly touched upon in other novels (read: casual sex, alcoholism, insecurities). I'd like to thinks this lends to her being a young adult herself, and, in no doubt, her great writing. I cannot wait to read more from her.

Ratings:

Plot: A

Definitely original and so easy to get into.

Characters: A

Relatable and understandble. And again with the character connection. Serious character connection

Cover: B

I catch the attitude from the model's face in connection with Bianca's attitude. I just wish there were more to it. I can't put my finger on what though.

Length: A

I wanted it to keep going. Not for sake of completion, but because I loved it so much! However the novel ended well- going past it could have resulted in overkill.

If you couldn't tell already, I fell in love with the DUFF. Risky and captivating, I give it:

Five Stars!
Catch The Duff when it hits stores September 7th!

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely. 

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks. 

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

My Review:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else is one of those ultimate Find Yourself novels, and I loved seeing Bronwen do that. Unlike a lot of novels where the main character is trying to find her way, Bronwen  has a strength that is nothing short of admirable. She's funny, sarcastic, and definitely has a mind of her own. This makes her one of my favorite characters I've read in a long time. 
Her relationship with Jared is beautifully realistic. Sure, they have their cute moments, but  you're able to see faults in them individually, as well as them as a couple. One of those major faults being that Bronwen is able to take one of the biggest of jumps (saying 'I love you'), but not open up about the smaller things (telling him she's a vegetarian). Just  reading their interactions was fantastic.
There were a few subplots in the novel, One of which that deals with the death of Bronwen's father. While it happened a few years ago, Bronwen and her family are still learning how to deal. McCahan did a beautiful job of tying this in with what's happening with Bronwen now, years later. This, for me, really helped make the book what it is.
My Rating:
Plot:A
Delightfully original mixed with familiar themes.
Characters: A
Loved how realistic the characters were.
Cover Art:A
So fabulous! It's what made me pick it up in the first place!
Length: B
A little long, but the ending was fantastic!!
A fantastic read, I give I Now Pronounce You Someone Else:

Five Stars!
I Now Pronunce You Someone Else is available now!

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Summary:

When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?

My Review: 

What made me read this novel? I'll be honest. It was the cover. It's simple, I know, but the broken strand of pearls pulled me in. Now, when a cover pulls you in, what's inside could be a hit or miss for you. But this novel? Definitely a hit. I absolutely loved this novel. The main character, Ally was so... realistic. She definitely had a lot of strength for coming back to Orchard Hill and holding her own against her "friends", there were still those moments where she put her guard down and hoped for things to be back the way they were. I loved that about her- despite her determination to move on and start over, there were still the hope that her friends would take her back. And being honest, what person wouldn't feel that way? 

With her confidence and Jake's ego, they form an adorable couple. Ally's a no-crap kind of girl, which is exactly what Jake needs. I'll admit his ego  really put me off in the beginning, but as the book progressed, Jake really grew up, which finally got me rooting for him. 

Jake and Ally's relationship aside, I love how developed the other characters were in this novel. Even with the smallest characters, Scott made sure to hint that there was more to them. I especially loved Annie, Ally's new best friend, who sticks with her through everything. As for Ally's old friends, even though it's obvious though terrible they were (most of them, anyway), you shared those same moments of hope Ally did. Then there were those moments that I wanted to just scream at them for being so terrible. While, sure, I was angry with them, I loved that I felt so strongly about them. That, my friends, is good writing.

Overall, despite the terrible (but understood) cliquey-ness, I really loved this book. Be warned, the ending is definitely a cliffhanger,  but don't worry! I hear thy'll be a sequel next sumer!

My Rating:

Plot: A

Definitely not a storyline I've read before, but still had hints of classic girl-meets-boy love and battling friendships. Loved it.

Characters: A

A good variety of characters; some not likeable, all understandable.

Cover Art: A

Really simple, but fits the storyline perfectly.

Length:A

If I had not known there's going to be a sequel, I definitely would have been upset with the length. Knowing this, though, I love the cliffhanger (yes, even if it means waiting)

A novel that really makes you wonder: "Who cares what they think?",  I give it: 

Five Stars!

She's So Dead to Us is out now!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Summary:

 Last year, all of Belly's dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change--just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.

Review:

Words can't even begin to express how excited I was when I received this book in the mail.  I absolutely loved The Summer I Turned Pretty,  and I have been waiting to get my hands on this, novel, the sequel. A lot has changed over the summer, and Han did an excellent job of filling in the pieces that we missed over the year. This was pleasantly surprising since the book didn't pick up from where the first book had ended, which I was kind of hoping for. Now that I read the book through, I appreciate Han starting on the next summer, because this summer was such a stark contrast to the last one. The characters were just as amicable as before, despite the somewhat depressing circumstances.  Susannah's death changed everyone's lives in an instant, despite the fact that everyone knew it was coming. A lot of relationships were tested because of her death, and the novel really centered around that. 

One thing different from its predecessor is that in addition flashbacks, Jeremiah also telling his story as well.  I really appreciated this because while Jeremiah played a really important part in the first novel, with Belly narrating, there seemed to be a bigger focus on Conrad. With Jeremiah narrating, I started to root for him a little more in his fight to win Belly's heart. It also helped us to see what was going on with Jeremiah, Conrad, and their father in the aftermath of Susannah's death.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book; partly because of my love for the first novel, and then because of how beautifully the characters developed in part two. In addition to those things, the epilogue really wowed me. Honestly... just wow. I know this just came out, but that cliffhanger has me (impatiently) waiting for the third part (out next summer- yay!).

Ratings:

Plot: A

The novel picked up right where it should and focused on life after the death of Susannah, a staple in Belly's summer.

Characters: A

Even though they were going through tough times, I was still able to connect with them. Their growth in the novel was great as well.

Cover Art: A

Really similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty, which I loved. I liked the similarity because it brought me back to the characters I grew to love in the first novel.

Length: A

I loved the shortness of the chapters, as well as the fact that the story took place in a matter of days. It really helped to emphasize how fast everything moves during the summer.

Utterly fantastic and a beautiful book for summer, I wholeheartedly give It's Not Summer Without You:

Five Stars!

A Field Guide for Heartbreakers by Kristen Tracy

Summary:

When best friends Dessy and Veronica arrive in Prague for a prestigious writing workshop, their priorities diverge. Dessy, fragile from a recent breakup, has come to mend her broken heart by honing her craft. Veronica has just dumped her boyfriend and plans to blow off the workshop. She’d rather master a different subject—boys. Veronica gets right to work on her “man-wall”— one paper cutout for every hot-dude she meets— and embarks on her mission to cover a wall of their dorm by summer’s end. At times, Dessy thinks her friend might be a genius. At others, Veronica seems more like an agent of chaos. As if their love lives weren’t complicated enough, soon a homicidal suitemate is bent on killing Veronica and Dessy, and both girls are hiding secrets that could wreck their friendship. Well, no one ever said breaking hearts was a simple craft. . . .

Review:

When reading the summary of this novel, I became really interested in it. It seemed like a great summer read and really original I will admit while it is that, I was somewhat disappointed in the novel as a whole. While Tracy did present an interesting plot, there was just something missing within the characters. I couldn't connect- even with the Veronica and her "man-wall" (which wasn't played out as much as I had expected), I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was because there wasn't enough background info. Plus, Veronica seemed to always be 20 levels above everyone else in the drama department, which made her somewhat unenjoyable. Unfortunately, I felt because of this, Dessy's natural behavior was inhibited, due to her having to handle and react from Veronica's action. As a whole, this novel was about Dessy finding herself, but one of the main reasons why she having trouble doing so is that she so attached to Veronica, she couldn't be herself. 

Aside from the main characters, the plot as a whole just didn't live up to my expectations. A summer in Prague seemed really fascinating, but unfortunately there were only a few highlights from me, and most of these were found at the end of the novel.  I think what I didn't enjoy with this novel wast that  it seemed to be told from the view of the  sidekick friend, but  the majority of what she had to say was centered around her best friend, not herself.- a sidekick telling a sidekick's story. There was just so much more to Dessy, I'm sure, but even when she's the center of attention, Veronica's still stealing the show. Unfortunate.

My Ratings:

Plot: B

It was really original, however, parts that didn't seem so important were drawn out, while parts that seemed important were cut short. 

Characters: C

As I said, I saw the potential in Dessy, as well as supporting characters such as Roger and Waller (two student on the trip). However,  the eclipse that was Veronica, really overshadowed everyone, and  not in a good way. 

Cover Art: B

Really cute and sweet. Doesn't really match the storyline though.

Length: C

Seemed too long for the storyline. There seemed to be a lot of fillers, which really drug things out.

A unique storyline, I give this novel:

Three Stars.

Pick up A Field Guide for Heartbreakers out June 1st!

Things I Know About Love by Kate Le Vann

Summary:

 So this is really my first proper blog, but I don't want to do just a straight diary. I need to have a purpose, and this one's about love. Love, my loves, and why, no matter what the world spits at me, I will always chase after that one supreme emotion...because when you feel it, it makes all other things seem a little 'yeah, yeah - and?'. 

Livia is starting a new chapter in her life. She has been ill with leukaemia for most of her teen years and, as she heads out to America to visit her brother Jeff, she plans on making up for lost time. She's had a lot of time to think about love - but her observations, theories, previous crushes and boyfriends all pale in comparison to what she finds in New York...

My Review:

Following the trend of summer beach reads comes Things I Know About Love. Unfortunately, as I delved into the novel I began to realize that this was not my favorite type of beach read. The novel is told through blog posts, which I loved- a small step outside the box. However, I feel like this may not have been the best approach for this novel. In a regular blog, when you sit down to post, you don't usually write every detail; you focus on the important parts and give details/ background info as needed. I can't get over feel ing like this is what happened with the posts in this novel. Don't get me wrong, there was sufficient detail, but -for me- there wasn't enough. I couldn't connect with this novel. Things were just going so fast and everything felt abbreviated. I was missing the emotion. I didn't catch the emotions from the smaller things, like the stolen glances or the small everyday moments of embarrassment. Even with something as significant as Livia's leukemia, I just couldn't... connect. I wish I could say more, but given the brevity of the novel (only 160 pages!), I feel like saying more would say too much. 

My ratings:

Plot: B

Somewhat original, however its length captivated me more than the story line. Getting so far into the story after 30 short pages, it would have been a waste to take a break.

Characters: C

Livia seemed like a great character, as did the rest of the characters, for that matter. Unfortunately since it's written through blog posts and it is quite short, the characters didn't get as deep as they really could have given their circumstances

Cover Art: B

Very nice cover. I loved that you can't see Livia's face; it left more to the imagination. It's pretty simplistic as well, which matches the length of the novel.

Length: D

If you haven't caught on to it yet, I can't get over this novel's length! I don't mind short summer novels- I think they help to emphasize the quickness of summer, and how the days all blend together (can you tell I'm on summer vacation already? :) ), but this was just too short. I feel like the length stifled this novel in so many ways; from the characters to the plot to even the ending. I would even go so far as to say that the blog posting style would have worked better if it had been longer. The shortness really didn't do anything for me for this novel *sigh*.

I felt the potential in this novel, but the shortness killed it for me :(. Unfortunately, I have to give it: 

Three stars

For a quick, bitersweet novel, pick up Things I Know About Love on June 22