Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Book review #34
Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
Rating: Five stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.

It's been seventy five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance. 

It's way after midnight and I'm trying to fall asleep. But I can't. Having just finished Love You Hate You Miss You less than five minutes ago, with dry tears on my cheeks, sleep is the last thing I can do. Love You Hate You Miss You is so powerful, raw, heartbreaking, and surprisingly funny. After reading a couple of light, fluffy books, this is just what I needed. I don't know how I'm feeling right now. One thing is for sure, I'm definitely blown away and almost speechless. Elizabeth Scott has amazed me once again.

The story begins with Amy coming straight out of Pinewood-a treatment center, where she had spent her summer. Julia, her best friend, had died sometime ago, but Amy obviously is still very affected. You don't discover the true story of how Julia died until the middle of the book. The book mainly  focuses on Amy's life after the accident, as well as flashbacks and memories of times before it happened. About half or more of the book is composed of letters written to Julia, about almost everything-memories, what's going on in the present, and true feelings. Amy has to deal with her parents who have changed significantly after the accident, her annoying shrink, and of course all of her schoolmates. Untimely Amy has to learn how to live, love, and smile again.

Amy is just an extraordinary person. I could never imagine being in her shoes. Without my best friend, my other half, my world would never be the same. In some ways I somewhat understand. Without someone important to you everything is just different. She felt so many different things, including guilt. Amy blames what happened on herself. Even though Julia wasn't alive in the book, I felt like I had known her all my life. She's one of those people everybody loves. She's not perfect at all, but she couldn't be a better friend with a bigger heart. I really liked how the parents played a different role than usual.  They were a totally in love couple, who weren't really planning on ever having kids. After the accident they transformed from non-caring, not even noticing that Amy is in the room, to extra-supportive and even somewhat strict.

What I couldn't really believe was that all of Amy's former friends shunned her and even made fun of her after the accident. Not that they were even real friends in the first place. Amy got stuck with Mel, Patrick, and former friend Carol for the rest of the year. A very different and unique group of people.  Patrick definitely stood out, he was mysterious and so different. He was practically the only human who actually understood.

The writing was so powerful and vivid. You would never imagine that a story about such a dark subject could be funny and sarcastic. The feelings were so touching and real. This book will think make you think...think hard. It made me feel so grateful for everything. I cried so much while reading this, I cried happy, sad, and angry tears along with Amy.

Amy and Julia, along with the whole book, I know I won't forget. I savored every page, not ever wanting it to end. I loved Elizabeth Scott's other books, but I personally think this one was her best. Love You Hate Miss You is a must read. I strongly recommended everyone to read this.

Book Blogger Hop!

Hey! It's Friday and you know what  that means-it's time for the book blogger hop! I absolutely love this, I've found so many great blogs over the process. Hop on over to Crazy for Books and join in!

Have a great weekend everyone! :D

p.s once I have so more time to explore (at a regular hour) I'll share some of the awesome blogs I've found.

Awesome blogs I've found so far:

Chick Loves Lit
Emily's Reading Room
Reading Teen
Erika Breathes Books
Book Sanctuary

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Book review #33
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
Rating: Five stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated polygamous community without questioning her father’s three wives and her twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much—if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family. 

Oh.my.god! I literally feel nauseous, in a good way if that's even possible. The Chosen One was one of the most interesting books I've ever read. A few days later and I'm still amazed just thinking about it. I was let into a whole different world, so different than most of us are used to. It was somewhat disgusting, heartbreaking, and honestly inspirational.

Thirteen year old Kyra is content with her life in the community. She does what she's supposed to do...er except from the sneaking library books, seeing a boy after dark, and wishing the prophet was dead. Kyra just continues on with her regular life until the prophet makes a special visit to their place claiming he had a vision she was saved by becoming her sixty year old uncle's seventh wife. Kyra can't stand the thought of marrying her old creepy uncle! She doesn't even like him, let alone love him. Kyra must choose between her family and her own sanity.

Kyra, first off, I'm so proud of this girl! She's so brave and outspoken. I feel like if I was living in the community, I would have had the same feelings as her. Most people in the community would have accepted marrying their nasty uncle, but Kyra has other plans. Uncle Hyrum, I can't even barely bear to write about. This character is burned into my mind, and not in a good way-at all. He really is creepy and disgusting. Violence is his only answer to discipline, even on poor babies. Every time he tried to touch Kyra, I would literally cringe.  I couldn't believe he wanted, no insisted, on the marriage. As for the prophet, I think I may even hate him more than Uncle Hyrum. I couldn't believe people actually had to look up to him and follow him. Joshua was so sweet, he brought more of the normal to the book. Lastly, Patrick was one of my favorite characters. As the only contact outside of the community, and the driver of the library on wheels, he became Kyra's good friend.

The community was extraordinary. Almost everything was considered a sin. Women weren't allowed to show skin. Books were banned and considered the words of the devil. There weren't even mirrors allowed! According to them, you had to have three wives to go to heaven and kids were born almost every minute. And of course a female couldn't even gaze upon a boy.

One of my favorite parts of  the book was the role books played. Kyra would sneak books from the library on wheels, located outside the community-where she snuck out to. She would run back with books and hide them under the tree where she would escape into the wonderful world of reading. It helped her feel better about life. Could anyone imagine not being allowed to read?

The scenes and descriptions were so powerful. They were kind of disturbing to a point. The beatings were horrifying and made me want to curl up into a ball crying my eyes out. The preachings were just crazy and don't get me started on the scenes with Uncle Hyrum. The book got crazier as it went along. I thought I had gone through the worst, but boy was I wrong. This is a definite one-sitting read, or as my sister Sophia described, a not move a muscle for two hours read.

The Chosen One is so unique and extraordinary. My heard broke into a million pieces. Tears flowing down my face for so many different reasons.  This will leave you thinking. Thinking about all the other places out there, about the world we live in, and how lucky we truly are. This is a book everyone should read. Please, I'm almost begging you, pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we "can't-wait-to-read".

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdtte
Release date: July 6th 2010
Summary: (taken from Goodreads) 

Four dares - Two secrets - One night Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper. Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her. Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide ... 

I've actually been wanting to read this for awhile, but I've been waiting for the summary to come out. The cover is absolutely stunning, I love it!  This sounds like such a fun, good read. It's definitely my type of book. I really can't wait! :)

Burned out today! Trailer & First Chapter

Burned by P.C and Kristin Cast, aka the seventh book in the House of Night series is out today! To celebrate the  trailer and first chapter has been released. 

Summary: 

"Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her.  But how?  He will have to die to do so, the Vampire High Council stipulates.  And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left… "

Book trailer:




To read the first chapter click here.
To downland the thsong from trailer click here.


Feel free to visit the website for more information! Click here.

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.
- Open to a random page.
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
 -BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

"I slip behind the newspapers.Tuck my dress in close and wait, my heart slamming in my chest so hard I worry maybe whoever is out there might hear."


-pg. 64, The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams




I actually  finished this one and oh my goodness, it was crazy, but amazing! It was so different, I'm still not recovered. My older sister Sophia read it as well, and we are still talking talking about it two days later. Expect the review either Thursday or Friday :)

Daily Dose Monday (9)

Daily Dose Monday is hosted by Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly and features inspiring/magical images that you would like to share with your readers :)

 

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a meme originally hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren (click for more information) that shares all the new books you've bought, borrowed, received, or traded for the week.

I had a not too bad week. I did get quite a bit of reading done this week and it was awesome. I still have so many good books to read...I can't wait :)

Library/for review:

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Summary: (taken from Goodreads) 

Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept. 

I don't know why, but I still get really surprised when my library has newish books. This has been on my to read list for ages. I've read mixed reviews on this, so I'm kinda nervous.

Looking For Alaska by John Green
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Miles Halter's adolescence has been one long nonevent - no challenge, no girls, no mischief, and no real friends. Seeking what Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps," he leaves Florida for a boarding school in Birmingham, AL. His roommate, Chip, is a dirt-poor genius scholarship student with a Napoleon complex who lives to one-up the school's rich preppies. Chip's best friend is Alaska Young, with whom Miles and every other male in her orbit falls instantly in love. She is literate, articulate, and beautiful, and she exhibits a reckless combination of adventurous and self-destructive behavior. She and Chip teach Miles to drink, smoke, and plot elaborate pranks. Alaska's story unfolds in all-night bull sessions, and the depth of her unhappiness becomes obvious.

This sounds great and I've heard wonderful things about it! I already started Paper Towns and am loving it, so I immediately checked this one out :) 

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing. 
 
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan are awesome together! I watched the movie and really liked it, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this. 

Will Grayson,Will Grayson by John Green and  David Levithan
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.



I almost forgot about this. I'm really excited about it! I hope it lives up to the hype :P 

What's in your mailbox?

Heartless by Sara Shepard

Book review #32
Heartless by Sara Shepard 
Rating: Five stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
The newest installment in Sara Shepard’s bestselling Pretty Little Liars series is packed with juicy drama and delicious surprises that will keep readers guessing to the very end.

Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer have been telling some outrageous tales; only, the proof always seems to go missing. The friends insist they’re telling the truth, but all of Rosewood thinks they’re just out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after them, will anyone believe the girls. . . or will they be the next to disappear?

Heartless was intense, thrilling, and just a perfect addition to the Pretty Little Liars series. Once again I was blown away! You would think being the 7th book in the series, that is would start to get old. Well that definitely isn't the case, it's back and better than ever. Having reading this book on the plane I did get a couple of stares due my reactions. I can't count how many times I said "oh my god!".

Everyone has something going on. All the main characters have their own take on what happened to Ali. Hanna is sent to a mental institution due to A of course. She meets a girl who she automatically clicks with, but there's more than meets to the eye. Iris sure is trouble, and Hanna thinks she may be connected to Ali's story. A sends Emily to live with an Amish family for a couple of days, where she learns some important things. She thinks she might have a lead in the mystery. Ali has her own things going on. Together with Noel she thinks she can contact the spirits and talk to Ali. Then lastly, there's Spencer who learns some disturbing news about her family which was of course sparked by A.On top of all that, the town has officially nicknamed the group Pretty Little Liars, due to the claim the girls made about seeing Ali in the forest after the fire.

The plot really is simply amazing. It has you twisting and turning at every corner. Important things are finally revealed, but knowing this series, you never know what to believe.I became really attached to each character. I feel like I've known them for years now. It's going to be really sad when the series finally ends.

The Pretty Little Liars is officially one of my  favorite series. Mystery, romance, suspense, and that fluff that I love to top it all of, it has it all. I'm dying for the next book to come out. AND it's going to be an ABC Family television show, which makes me extremely excited! If you haven't read this series, I strongly recommend you should. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro

Book review #31
Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems.

I just spent the last hour or two curled up into a ball, complete with a cup of tea, totally engrossed in the life of Nicolette Antonovich. I really needed a lighthearted fun read too escape from the real world for a bit, and that's just what I got. What I loved the most was that Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress was light and fluffy, but at the same time realistic.

Nicolette has quite a bit going on with family issues on the side, two very handsome boys fighting for her, and friendship problems to top it all off. The one thing that helps her get through it all is the "magical" unworn prom dress. See,as a sophomore, Nic got asked out by her longtime crush Rascal to the prom. Nic couldn't have been happier, she bought her dress and everything. Then Rascal's actual girlfriend moves back to town. Leaving Nic with no date to the prom, a broken heart, and an unworn prom dress. She doesn't really know how she feels about Rascal now and then there's Jared who makes things even more complicated.

I absolutely adored Nicolette. I just liked how everyone knew she was great, except the only person that really mattered-herself. As for Jerad (her best friend's older brother) I  fell in love with him the second he was introduced. I always secretly wanted them to get together. Rascal, I definitely did not like. I mean at first I was just as blinded as Nic, but after his true colors came out I finally came to my senses.

The top ten uses for an unworn prom dress were spread out throughout every few chapters. They were so fun and made me love the book even more. That along with the pacing of the book really made this an enjoyable read. You become so engaged and attached to the characters you almost feel like your watching a sitcom.

You can't help but smile while reading this book. It is most definitely one of those feel good books. It certainly made my day a lot better. Romance, drama, and light-hearted all wrapped up in one perfectly describes this book. Find a comfortable spot because once you start this you'll probably be there for awhile :)

*An extra special thanks goes out to Tina Ferraro for sending me a copy of this!

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Book review #30
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it? 
 
The Naughty List was one of the cutest books I've ever read. Although cute, adorable, sweet, and light just make up one part of the book. The other half consists of, crime-busting, hard-core spying, and cheater reports. The two aspects combined created a fun and unique book. The Naughty List contained just the right amount of everything making it a perfect light read.

Tessa is the captain of the Smitten Kittens cheer squad, which is also secretly spies for hire which catches cheaters in action. And when I say in action I mean actually in action, as in staking out houses in the middle of the night, spying on dates, and so on. Everything's going great until Tessa's boyfriend, aka one of the few boy not the naughty list, starts acting suspicious. Then Christian and Chloe, the two new kids, start to shake things up.

Tessa was a bit over the top at times, with trying to be perfect all the time, but she really was a sweet person. It's hard to imagine not liking Tessa. She's just one of those people who wants the best for everyone. Her and Aiden were too adorable together. I really liked Aiden and even though he showed some sneaky behavior, I always rooted for him. Let's just say I had high expectations for him. I really don't know why, but I liked Christian, the "bad" kid. I kind of wanted Tessa to like him as well.

I loved the crime fighting  scenes! They were so fun. It was kind of crazy how far they went at times, but that's what made it so enjoyable. It was really refreshing to see some type of report (donation form, cheater report, suspects etc.) at the beginning of each chapter. I really can't stop gushing from how cute this book was! I think I've already mentioned that a couple of times. It was really funny how Tessa used other words instead of cuss words such as cinnamon toast crunch, gingersnaps, queen of sheba, and then of course there's strawberry smoothie. Some people might get annoyed by this, but I was very entertained.

The ending wasn't too perfect, it was just right. I'm so happy there's going to be a sequel! I can't wait to see what happens next. This is definitely a very unique story. You are definitely going to become very attach to all the characters and the plot.  It will be very hard to put down. Why wouldn't you pick this one up?

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we "can't-wait-to-read".

Lost For Words by Alice Kuipers
Release date: May 1st 2010
Summary : (taken from Amazon)

My New Year's resolution: I'm moving on from everything that's happened. I'm not going to talk about it, think about it, let the memory pounce upon me like a waiting tiger, nothing.

All Sophie wants to do is forget. But it's not easy now that everything's changed. The house feels too big, school drags on for too long, lights are too bright, the room spins, and her hands get sweaty for no reason. And she can't remember why she was ever best friends with Abigail, who is obsessed with parties and boys. Only the new girl, Rosa-Leigh, with her prose poems and utter confidence, might understand. But talking to her seems impossible. 

Lost in memories of the life she once had, Sophie retreats into herself. But there's only so long she can keep everything bottled up inside before she explodes. Maybe by confronting the tragedy of her past she'll figure out how to fix her future.

I looked up more about the book and discovered it was mostly about Sophie dealing with her sister's death from a London bombing. I read a wonderful review about this book already and that alone almost drove me to tears.  It really affected the reader and made her appreciate her siblings more. AND it's written in journal entries, which I love! So yeah I think this is going to be awesome :)

Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.
- Open to a random page.
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

 -BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Teaser:

 "I know everybody looks at me and sees death scrawled across my skin. It was just weird to have someone finally say it. It hurt a lot more than I thought it would, this weird grinding twist in my chest, like my heart wanted to stop beating but couldn't. "

 pg.50, Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott



Oh my goodness this book is amazing like amazing so far! It's so powerful and raw. I'm really looking forward to finishing this :)

Daily Dose Monday (8)

Daily Dose Monday is hosted by Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly and features inspiring/magical images that you would like to share with your readers :)

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a meme originally hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren (click for more information) that shares all the new books you've bought, borrowed, received, or traded for the week.

First on an unrelated note, I wanted to apologize for not posting or commenting for the past couple of days. I just painted my room! I'm very happy about it, I love the color. I had to take everything and I mean everything out of there, including my computer. It'll probably take awhile to get everything settled back in.  

Ok on to the books. I had a pretty decent week! It was really weird, for once I didn't have any books left to read. I took a very quick trip to the library to fix my dilemma :P

Library/For review:

The Heist Society by Ally Carter
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

I've heard amazing things about this book, so I just had to get it. I was actually pretty surprised my library actually had it. 

I'd Tell You I Loved You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)


The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it's a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn't have a code name?

Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she's doing something riskier than ever—she's falling in love. 

I've also heard great things about this series, so I decided to try it out. I love boarding school stories, so I have a feeling I'm going to love this.  

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.


It's been seventy five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance. 

This is one of the few Elizabeth Scott books I haven't read yet. It sounds seriously amazing. 

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.  

I've heard wonderful things about this book, but I"m kind of hesitant. It's not really my cup of tea, but I finally caved in due to all the hype. 

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated polygamous community without questioning her father’s three wives and her twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much—if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family. 

I went to my Goodreads page for this book, and ALL of my friends on there, gave this book five stars! I knew I had to check it out. 

Paper Towns by John Green
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.

The only other John Green book I've read was The Abundance Of Katherines and I loved it. I'm sure this will be great :) 

What's in your mailbox?

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Book review #29
Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from the inside flap of book-the Goodreads summary gave way too much information)


From the outside, Lucy's home looks normal. Inside the front door is where the secrets begin. Towering piles of newspapers and magazines. Bags of junk flooding every inch of open space. The rotting smell permeating the air. That is what she's kept from everyone-that her mother's compulsive hoarding has reduced their lives to garbage...literally.

With just two years until graduation, Lucy finally feels like a normal life is within her grasp. Her new best friend, Kaylie, and her longtime crush, Josh, make a future seem almost possible

Then one morning Lucy comes home to find something she never expected, something that will change her life forever. And she must ask herself-how far can she go to protect her family's secrets?

That was the craziest, most disgusting, sad, twenty one hours I've ever read about. Even though it was  set over twenty one hours, it felt like several days each full with lots of events. Told through present tense and flashbacks Dirty Little Secrets was one of the most unique books I've ever read. I almost felt like I was intruding on this secret lifestyle, that I knew existed, but never experienced.

Lucy has the normal side to her life, such as  hanging out with her friend Kaylie, going to the movies, babysitting the neighbors, and meeting with her crush Josh (aka normal teenage things). On the other hand, Lucy's life comes down to counting down the days until she can escape the walls of garbage she is forced to live in. Her mother is a hoarder. Each room is crammed with magazines, trash, and garbage- things known as "collectibles" to her mother. With bathrooms that barely work, Lucy can't even take a shower at her own house. Lucy has the responsibility of keeping this secret in order to protect herself and her family. She has to live in fear of not letting anyone see the inside of her house. Now that a tragedy has happened, Lucy has to go above and beyond to try to avoid letting her secret from becoming exposed. But how far can she actually go?

The descriptions and scenes were so powerful and vivid. I easily imagined everything in my head- the disgusting trash and house, the intense scene at the party, and every encounter she had with Josh. I'm not going to lie the house was really sick. I really really wanted to just jump in and start cleaning for days (I'm sort of a clean-freak). I almost felt dirty and a bit uncomfortable myself. I think it's amazing that a book can actually do that.

Lucy tops the list for characters I feel most sorry for. Saying that-she also tops the list for characters I'm most proud of. Lucy has a horrible life-not only a terrible mother with issues, but a runaway father, an overall messed up family, and an unbelievable lifestyle she has no control over. I couldn't imagine living like that, I was very impressed with how Lucy handled everything.

I had zero ounce of love for Luce's mother. I know she does have issues, but I really just couldn't understand her no matter how hard I tried. I mean imagine begging your mom to let you clean up the house.  Kaylie, Luce's one friend, on the other hand, I loved. She was true friend that anyone would be lucky to have. She brought the normal to Lucy's life- which you do get a glimpse of. I did feel like Kaylie really could have helped Lucy, if she opened up about her problems, but I understand why she couldn't do that. Lastly, there was Josh. Josh was unbelievable,perfectly adding a sprinkle of romance to the story.

The only thing I didn't love so much about this book was the ending. It just wasn't my favorite, I mean it was in theory a good ending, but it felt really rushed. I was still very hungry for more. I wanted to see how Lucy's life ended up after making her final decision.

Overall Dirty Little Secrets was really an extraordinary novel! I've never read a book about this subject before, and I'm definitely glad I finally did. This was so unique, powerful, and fast-paced that is not to be missed. It is really impossible to put down, I would recommend this to anyone and everyone :)

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we "can't-wait-to-read".

Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee
Release date: May 13th 2010
Summary: (taken from Amazon)

Retta Lee Jones is blessed with a beautiful voice and has big dreams of leaving her tiny Tennessee hometown. With a beaten down car, a pocketful of hard-earned waitressing money, and stars in her eyes, Retta sets out to make it big in Nashville. But the road to success isn’t a smooth one in a town filled with dreamers, and Retta begins to have doubts: can she make her mark while staying true to herself?

From the breakout author of Artichoke’s Heart, this bighearted novel is a must-read for anyone who has ever chased a dream (or hummed along with Taylor Swift). 

I absolutely love reading books that deal with music, and I haven't read many of them, so I can't wait. This just looks like such a great entertaining read. I've already read a couple of raving reviews claiming that this is a unique story. I'm very excited! :)

Teaser Tuesday (5)

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.
- Open to a random page.
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

 -BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Teaser:

"I didn't cry or get upset like I usually did-I just felt a numbness that started in my chest and flowed outward with a strange kind of peace. Slowly and carefully, I picked up our plates and carried them both to the sink. At least now I knew what was possible, and I'd never ask her again."

pg. 93, Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu


Wow-what a crazy crazy book! I don't know how I'm feeling so far, kind of disgusting in a way, but totally engaged.

*This was scheduled to be posted last week, but it never did. So I went ahead and finished the book. I really enjoyed it! Expect the review to be posted on Thursday :)

Daily Dose Monday (7)

Daily Dose Monday is hosted by Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly and features inspiring/magical images that you would like to share with your readers :)