Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have so much to be thankful, but one of them would definitely have to be my amazing followers. ♥ Hope ya'll have a great day :)

Waiting on Wednsday (32)

"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".

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Summary: 
Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life...and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last....

Sarah Ockler is one of my favorite authors, so I was super excited when I found out she's coming out with a new book! The plot sounds great; I have high expectations for this one. :)

Stay by Deb Caletti

Book review #67
Stay by Deb Caletti
Rating: Five stars


Summary:
Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he's willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

Is it normal to think about a book days after you've read it? It's been a week or two and I can't seem to get Stay out of my head. I have a read a few other Deb Calleti books, but none of them captured me like this one.

Alternating chapters between the present, where Clara and her father have escaped to a small town by the beach, to the past where Clara and Christian's relationship develops from a blossoming love to a violent obsession. The alternating chapters were one of my favorite aspects about the book. The fact that you got to see both Clara in the relationship and how she reflected about it after, added so much to the story. It was almost shocking to see how much of herself was lost from her relationship with Christian.

Although the book is about a very delicate subject, it was surprisingly easy to read. The writing is beautiful and rich. At times the plot seemed so alive, making my heart race, scared to discover what was going to happen next. On a lighter note, including footnotes about her own comments, which brought humor to the story.

One might think the story is mainly about Clara and Christian's relationship, but embedded is the relationship with her father, her dead mother, and even her parent's relationship. What captured my attention most was the relationship between Cara and her father. The strong bond they have and the way they care about each other was refreshing.

The beach setting was breathtaking. It made me want to get in the car and drive to the nearest beach that had a lighthouse. The characters she met in the present chapters were well developed and likable. Specifically one character, who melted my heart and gave hope.

Stay is an intense, beautiful story that will be sure to stay with you. It's one of those books I love so much that I could write and write about and never stop. My review doesn't do it justice, you have to read it for yourself to see just how amazing it really is. I borrowed if from the library and it was hard to give it back; I think I'll be buying myself a copy.

In My Mailbox (38)

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.


For review:

Please Ignore Vera Diez by AS. King
Summary:

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E.Pearson

Summary:

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox

What's in your mailbox?

HI!

I can't even remember the last time I blogged and truly makes me sad. But I've still read some amazing books this year! It's senior year and aside from the college applications/scholarships, life isn't too hectic. I have plenty more time to read and blog. I can't wait to be a part of the blogging community again. <3 Thanks a million to everyone who hasn't unfollowed me! Also, a special shout out to my new followers, I will be checking out your blogs soon. :)

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Book review #66
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Rating: Five stars


Summary:

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.

Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

I have always heard wonderful things about Ellen Hopkin's books, but they never seemed like my cup of tea. After some peer pressure, I decide to cave in and see what all the hype was about. One sitting and two hours or so later I had devoured every word. Crank was extremely addicting and although painful and honest, it was one of the most fascinating books I have read in a very long time. 

To be honest, I don't know much about drugs and their effects. Of course I know the typical stereotypes and such, but Crank brought drugs into a whole other perspective. I really got to understand what crystal meth does to a person and how much it changes a person's life. 

Kristina was an easy, likable main character. The story begins unveiling her shy, normal persona and the course she takes after meeting a rebellious boy while visiting her unstable father. There Kristina is introduced to the world of meth. Also introduced his her violent, spontaneous alter ego- Bree. Her journey is quite horrifying and painful to read about, but none other than intriguing. I loved how you got to see both sides of Kristina, making her relationships and interests more realistic. 

I am a fan of verse novels and I have to admit Ellen Hopkins does it exceptionally well. Her writing was beautiful and will leave you hooked. The words were poetic and so descriptive, it really captivates the reader. The poems are spaced and structured, giving the words an even deeper meaning. 

Crank is not an easy book to read, but I am glad to have given it a chance. It's raw and shocking, exploring very important issue. Crank will make you think and see the world from a different view. I'm eager to get my hands on her follow up books! 

Daily Dose Monday (31)

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 :)

Remember me?

Hey everyone! 


It's been way too long. Thankfully, junior year is almost over! I have AP tests this week and the next, so I will be super busy and stressed until then. But, I decided to still squeeze in some time for blogging. Blogging really helps me relieve some of that stress and I REALLY miss it. I'm excited to somewhat get back into the blogging community and catch up on some of your wonderful blogs. After the school year is over, I'll be back for good. ♥ I've been reading some wonderful books lately! Look out for reviews of Sometimes It Happens, Where She Went, So Much Closer and more. :)


And a huge thanks goes out to all my lovely followers who have stuck with me all this time. 

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

"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".

My Life Undecided By Jessica Brody

Release date: June 7th, 2011

Summary:

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I’m gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

I loved The Karma Club by Jessica Brody and this sounds just as good! I can definitely relate to the summary; I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Daily Dose Monday (30)

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 (37)

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.

Received/for review:

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Summary:

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I just got this yesterday from Around the World Tours and I'm beyond excited to start it. If I Stay  was one of my favorite books, so I have high hopes for this one. 

From library/for review:

Love Drugged by James Klise
Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Jamie Bates has a simple strategy for surviving high school: fit in, keep a low profile, and above all, protect his biggest secret--he's gay. But when a classmate discovers the truth, a terrified Jamie does all he can to change who he is. At first, it's easy. Everyone notices when he starts hanging out with Celia Gamez, the richest and most beautiful girl in school. And when he steals an experimental new drug that's supposed to "cure" his attraction to guys, Jamie thinks he's finally going to have a "normal" life.

But as the drug's side effects worsen and his relationship with Celia heats up, Jamie begins to realize that lying and using could shatter the fragile world of deception that he's created-and hurt the people closest to him.

This was my WoW a few months back, so I'm excited to finally get a hold of it. And I just adore the cover. 

Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Summary:

Elle is a loner. She doesn’t need people. Which is a good thing, because she’s on her own: she had to move into her own apartment so her mother’s boyfriend won’t have to deal with her.

Then she meets Frank, the guy who lives next door. He’s older and has a girlfriend, but Elle can’t stop thinking about him. Frank isn’t like anyone Elle has ever met. He listens to her. He’s gentle. And Elle is falling for him, hard.

But Frank is different in a way that Elle was never prepared for: he’s transgender. And when Elle learns the truth, her world is turned upside down.  Now she’ll have to search inside herself to find not only the true meaning of friendship but her own role in jumpstarting the world.

Doesn't this just sound amazing? 

What's in your mailbox?

The Lying Game by Sarah Shepard

Book review #65
The Lying Game by Sarah Shepard
Rating: Four stars

Summary:

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

The Lying Game is down right creepy, entertaining, and will have you on edge at all times. As most Pretty Little Liars fans, I was extremely excited that Sarah Shepard was coming out with another series. I'm happy to say it was just as good. The plot was so innovative, that it  provokes  lingering thoughts long after finishing the last few pages.

The story unfolds with Emma's "normal" life, living with her foster family, trying to get by. Quickly, Emma stumbles across her long lost twin, Sutton. She decides to pack up and meet up with her, hoping for a heart-warming reunion. Emma never gets to actually meet Sutton, she gets something way more personal. Sutton is dead and it's Emma's job to live her in shoes, hopefully unraveling the mystery of her murder. 

I really liked how readers were told that Sutton was dead right off the bat; even though that was one of the few things you were sure of. I actually enjoyed  how I was kept guessing the whole way through. What did help quite a bit, was the intertwining of thoughts between Emma and Sutton.  Shepard did a wonderful job and creating a distinction between the two, although it did take time to get used to. They are complete opposites of each other, which allows readers to see the twos perspective of the other's life. 

Drama, lies, and mystery fill each and every page. At times, it became dangerous, which definitely helped kept me intrigued. One thing is for sure, no one does a mystery quite like Sarah Shepard. I have a feeling each book is going to get better and better. Regardless, Pretty Little Liars fans will fall in love with this book.  The Lying Game was a great start to one dangerous, suspenseful series. 

Daily Dose Monday (28)

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 :)

Help, tips & opinions please!

Hey everyone! :)

On Tuesday, I'm very honored to be hosting a workshop about blogging at a center downtown. This is my first time doing something like this and I'm not exactly a blogging "expert", so I would love your help!

The tagline is, "Do you dream of creating a blog about something you adore? Learn from a fellow teen, Sara Shalash, who has created a wonderful and successful blog (www.SarasBookJourney.blogspot.com). She’ll teach you how to get started and how to keep it going!"

Based on that, I'm thinking of sharing my own personal story of how and why I started my blog. I also had the idea of making a handout beforehand of tips and steps on keeping up/starting a blog. Any ideas on what to include?

Also, I'm thinking about discussing, layout/theme, content, advertising, and communication. Is there anything else I should add? Or any feedback or comments would help out a ton!

Thank you! 

In My Mailbox (36)

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.

For review:

Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
Summary:

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 “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. 

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out 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.

Not that Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Summary:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

I Will Save You by Matt De La Pena

Summary:

Kidd is running from his past and his future. No mom, no dad, and there’s nothing for him at the group home but therapy. He doesn’t belong at the beach where he works either, unless he finds a reason to stay.

Olivia is blond hair, blue eyes, rich dad. The prettiest girl in Cardiff. She’s hiding something from Kidd—but could they ever be together anyway?

Devon is mean, mysterious, and driven by a death wish. A best friend and worst enemy. He followed Kidd all the way to the beach and he’s not leaving until he teaches him a few lessons about life. And Olivia.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Summary:

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Blood on My Hands by Todd Strasser

Summary:

Callie is at an October keg party in the woods, when she notices that her friend Katherine has gone missing. The kids spread out to look for her and Callie finds her, lying on a path, with a big, bloody fake knife in her. She reaches for the knife and raises it, only to discover, to her horror, that it is real. At that moment, another of the search party stumbles on them, and takes a photo of Callie holding the bloody knife. Now she is the suspect in a grisly murder. How can she prove her innocence - and find the true murderer?

What's in your mailbox?