In My Mailbox (4)

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 got some really good books, I can't decided which one to read first! It's kind of weird, but out of habit I always stack my pile of books in order of which ones I'm going to read. Wow, I can't believe this is already my fourth IMM, I feel like it was just yesterday that I started me blog!

Library/for review:

Alphas by Lisi Harrison

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
 At OCD the losers are tormented.

At Alpha Academy, they're sent home.

Skye Hamilton has scored an invitation to the ultra-exclusive Alphas-only boarding school where beta is spelled LBR . What happens when the country's best, brightest, and hawtest begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?


I really liked The Clique series (guility pleasure) and I heard that The Aplhas is possibly even better! I'm excited to see how it goes.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. 
Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

I finally got my hands on a copy! I absolutely love summer reads and I've hear nothing but good things about this one, so I can't wait to read it!

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Sometimes you have to get lost.
The Girl: Clio, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.
The Mission: Survive her father's annoying antics. Oh, also find some underwater treasure that could be the missing link to a long-lost civilization.
The Crew: Dad's absentminded best friend Martin, his scary girlfriend Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant research assistant.
What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?
As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more mysterious than the sea—her own heart.

I really like Maureen Johnson, so I'm sure this will be a really good read. It looks really interesting.

Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
How can you take the guy your best friend loves . . . when your best friend’s going to die?
Alison Chapman has always believed she’d fall in love hard. And she does—with Sam Cody, a new guy with a gorgeous face and brooding eyes, a guy who’s impossible to resist. When Sam asks her to the Valentine’s Day dance, Alison is elated . . . until she finds out that her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, has fallen for Sam,
too . . . until she finds out that Isabella is dying. Now Alison wants Isabella’s last days to be her happiest ever—even if she and Sam have to hide their love. Even if, by sharing Sam, Alison risks losing him forever.

Sharing Sam looks like a really good emotional romance read. I'm not sure if I'm going to need tissues for this one.

What's in your mailbox?

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

Book Review #16
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from back of the book)
Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. Anyway, the coach moves everyone from JV up to varsity. It's just what happens. But that’s not what happens. This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. 
Parker has spent her life being a team player, but as soon as school starts, she's stuck with (horrors of horrors) the freshman, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. Worse? Her friends her own age are cutting her loose, and now the freshman kid across the street is the only person who'll give her the time of day.
But Parker's determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team and she has the perfect plan. The only catch? She has to trick her way into place in the kissing booth at the school's annual sports fair, then pull a stunt crazier than any she could dream up on her own. But that kiss has to look real. And Parker is less than experienced in playing that sort of field. Parker knows that practice makes perfect. Now she just has to find the right coach... 

After just reading a pretty intense read, The ABC's of Kissing is just what I needed to lighten the mood. I loved the setup of the book, the chapters were labeled in alphabetically order and had words revolving around kissing/kisses. I didn't even know some of these terms, they were really fun, like "butterfly kiss" and "caterpillar kiss". Not only did the book focus on the kissing aspect, but also the true meaning of friendships, popularity, and finding yourself. Parker losing her spot on the varsity team, resulted in losing her "friends". Parker will do just about anything to get her old life back, even if that means resorting to getting help from the freshman next door. I really enjoyed Tristan's character, he was cute, funny, and oddly mature for his age. The fact that their dads were feuding, added the perfect touch. When Parker's plan starts to unravel, she finds out who her real friends are and realizes that, maybe, possibly, it's worth it to to be seen with the freshman. In the end, Parker falls for the wrong guy, the last guy in fact she ever thought she’d like. Although the end, was a bit predictable, the romance was definitely real. The ABC's of Kissing was a very cute, sweet, even funny, and a very fluffy read, that well undoubtedly leave you smiling by the end. It was a short, fun book that was just prefect for relaxing with after a long day.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Book review #15
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Rating: Five stars(refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary:(taken from Goodreads) 
Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

I just finished reading Liar a few minutes ago and I have to say I'm left feeling breathless, overwhelmed and almost exhausted from being on Micah's roller coaster of lies. I've never read a book like Liar, honestly it was a breath of fresh air. Before reading this book you have to understand that Micah is a liar, you can't trust anything she says, she will lie about telling the truth, and she will lie about lying. I kind of wish I kept that in mind more while I was reading the book. I'm a very gullible person and tend to believe most things, so I got a little confused.

The book is divided into different sections all revolved around Zach's death. Micah describes the times before Zach( her after hours boyfriend) died, after he died, then adds in "family history". At first, I almost questioned if Zach was even her boyfriend! Along with Micah's illness for lying, the book focuses on how Zach really died. Aside from the subchapters there are three parts to the book. Part one is titled Telling the Truth except that she doesn't tell the whole truth.The clues build up, so that in part two: Telling the True Truth, her biggest secret isn't so hard to believe.You easily find yourself torn between the truth. At times I even found myself questioning if small details, that should be true, were lies. This might sound confusing, but the more Micah lied and told us she was being truthful, the easier it was to believe her. The last part, The Actual Real Truth, is where some of your questions are answered, and the "truth" is revealed. I have to admit, while reading some of her confessions, my mouth literally dropped open! 

Micah is a fascinating, strong main character. I loved how she literally "talked" to you, as well as her "reasoning" for her lies. I have to warn you at the end of the book, it's up to the you to decide whether or not Micah's telling the truth. The only complain I could come up with about Liar, is the journey of doubting and second guessing myself the whole time, but then again that just made it that much more interesting. Liar is a suspenseful thriller that will leave you at the edge of your seat. I'm happy to say that Liar is a book that stays with you long after you read it.

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

"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". This is my very first Waiting On Wednesday! There are so many books I  can't wait to read, so it was hard to just pick one.

House Rules by Jodi Picoulut
Release date: March 2nd,2010

Summary: (taken from Amazon)

 The astonishing new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about a family torn apart by an accusation of murder.

"They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world, and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else, but truly doesn't know how."

Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject -- in his case, forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do...and he's usually right. But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's -- not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect -- can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way -- and fails those who don't.

I absolutely love love Jodi Picoult, so I was very excited to hear she's coming out with a new book! I've read almost all the book she's written and they almost never disappoint. House Rules looks very interesting, I can tell it's going to be intense. The thing I like most about her books is that I usually learn about something I don't know much about, while still enjoying the book!

What are you waiting for?

In My Mailbox (3)

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.  

Even though I have a whole stack of unread books, I couldn't help myself. I got some really good books this week, that I'm stoked to get started on! :)

Bought/for review:
                  
Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Audrey Niffenegger's innovative debut, The Time Traveler's Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

The Time Traveler's Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Claire's marriage and their passionate love for each other, as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals - steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

This was kind of a random buy, but  I just watched the movie last night and I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. The movie was pretty amazing and I heard the book was even better. I'll be sure to keep a box of tissues nearby though.

Library/for review: 

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
 Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that’s not what happens.

This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. Now, she’s stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach. A kissing coach.

I love the cover of this book! I'm not really expecting it too be the best book in the world, but it looks like a fun light read.


Tainted Love by Melody Mayer (book four in The Nannies series)
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Smart girls.

Things are heating up between Kiley and Jorge . . . but the fire isn't out between her and Tom either. Tom's used to hanging out with gorgeous models—how can a girl from Wisconsin compete with that? The only way to cool off is at scuba class, except Kiley keeps having panic attacks. Is it because of the ocean—or her Bermuda love triangle?

Crazy boys.

Getting drunk and hooking up with Luis was not smart. That's why Lydia's decided to pretend the whole fiasco never happened. Why ruin what she has with Billy over one stupid mistake? But Luis won't take no for an answer.

Crazier girls.

Life's pretty sweet right now for Esme. She and Jonathan are free to be together, her artist-to-the-stars tattoo biz is booming, and the Goldhagens just gave her a raise. So when Tarshea, the girl Esme vowed to help, arrives in L.A. and begins to steal her life, Esme's not about to let it happen.

I absolutely love The Nannies series, they are so fun! My library just got in the next few books in the series, so I can't wait to see what happens next. I also got the next few books in the series.


Bad to the Bone by Melody Mayer (the 5th book in The Nannies series)
   












All Night Long by Melody Mayer (the 6th book in The Nannies series)     



 

 






Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Summary: (taken from Goodreads) 

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life.

Before I read The Last Song, I haven't read much by Nicholas Sparks, so I decided to try out some of his other books. I saw a movie trailer for this book and it looked pretty amazing, especially since Channing Tatum is one of the main characters :)

What's in your mailbox?

Exclusively Chloe

For the first time, in a long time, I really couldn't get through a whole book. For some reason, I would start a book and be so disinterested I would have to put it down. Good news, I finally got through a whole book! I've just finished Exclusively Chloe and I'm already half-way through Liar! 

Book Review #14
Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang
Rating: Three stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary:
16- year old Chloe Grace, the first celebrity-adopted kid in Hollywood, has a very privileged life. When she learns from a headline on a gossip magazine, that her dad was having an affair, everything starts to go wrong. With her parents' divorce, paparazzi, and everyone watching her move, Chloe becomes sick of her life. She wonders what it would be like to be a "normal" kid in a regular school. Chloe decides to do just that, she gets a "make-under" and enters the "real world."

Honestly, what really drew me to the book was the cover. Although I thought the summary that was provided on the back of the book was somewhat inaccurate. I thought the book was going to mostly be about Chloe undercover, but Chloe didn't undergo her transformation until the late second half of the book. Despite the misconception, I thought it was an entertaining light read. I love reading books about Hollywood and Chloe was a great main character, she was nice, sweet, and not snotty at all. Unlike most Hollywood starlet books, most of the descriptions weren't about the name of brands, which was a major plus. I enjoyed most of the characters, aside from Rachelle (one of Chloe's "best friends") who wasn't a good friend at all. I really liked Luther, her mother's stylist, and her fake "dad" for whom she lives with when she goes undercover. Luther gave me quite a couple of laugh of loud moments. I have to say, the book got a lot more interesting during the second half, when Chloe renamed herself as "Lilly" and transferred schools. There is also more to the story, than Chloe just wanting to see how "normal" life it, but  I don't want to give away any spoilers. Put aside the few typical stereotypes and you have a look at some of the harsh reality of Hollywood (without being too trashy and unrealistic). In the end, Excursively Chloe was a fun/entertaining, light read.

Lucky T

Book review #13
Lucky T by Kate Brian
Rating: Three stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary:
Lucky T isn't the best book the world, but it was a good light read. The plot is a bit predictable and the story line is kind of crazy- revolved around 16 year old Carrie, who has everything going for her, due to a lucky t-shirt given to her by her dad who she rarely sees. One day, her lucky T accidentally gets thrown into a give-away pile for kids in India, from that day on Carrie's luck dramatically changed. Guess where Carrie spends her summer vacation? India! Carrie travels half-way around t...more 16 year old Carrie,  has everything going for her, due to a lucky t-shirt given to her by her dad who she rarely sees. One day, her lucky T accidentally gets thrown into a give-away pile for kids in India, from that day on Carrie's luck dramatically changed. Guess where Carrie spends her summer vacation? India! Carrie travels half-way around the world to track down her lucky t-shirt, finding love, adventure, and hopefully a little luck on the way.

 Lucky T isn't the best book the world, but it was a good light read. The plot is a bit predictable and the story line is kind of crazy. Surprisingly the book doesn't only focus on the importance of a t-shirt, but touches on other aspects such as romance, believing in yourself, and friendship. It was really nice reading a book that was set in another place (India), I got to learned a lot about Indian culture and how life is like in India, which I didn't know much about before. The best part about the book was seeing Carrie's overall transformation, by the end of the trip the t-shirt isn't her main priority, she grows up a lot. Lucky T is a story about good will, forgiveness, taking chances and taking responsibilities for your mistakes. In the end, not a bad read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny/romantic read. 

In My Mailbox (2)

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 haven't bought any books this week, but I'm planning on buying a load of books with my new giftcards next week. I finished the books from last weeks haul, but I still have to write reviews. I got a bunch of new books from the library that I'm really excited about! :) 

Library/for review: 

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly. 

I've been wanting to read this book forever and I finally got a hold of it! It looks like a really good read, so I'm really excited.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is black. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as they could remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the maze after dark. 

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl springs up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might be able to find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

I absolutely love the Hunger Games series and someone said that the Maze Runner was kind of similar so I decided to check it out! It looks like an awesome book. Look out for a review very soon.

How To Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Stanford

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

I thought this looked like a really interesting book, so I'm glad to finally get to read this!

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

All Unquiet Things just came out on the 12th and I was lucky enough to get a copy to read!

Rage by Julie Anne Peters

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs—it can’t give her Reeve Hartt.

Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right?

In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.

I'm not really sure about this one, but I'm ready to give it a chance.

What's in your mailbox? 

Front and Center

Book review #12
Front and Center by Catherine Gillbert Murdock
Rating: Three starts (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary:
After a few crazy months, everything is finally back to normal for high school junior D.J. Schwenk. D.J. heads back to school just in time for basketball season, after taking time off to take care of  her older brother after his spinal cord injury. After being in the spotlight for so long, D.J. is looking forward to blending in both on and off the court, but she gets no such luck. D.J. is forced to make big decisions about college, boys, and about the kind of girl she wants to be. 

Front and Center is the third book in the Dairy Queen series, although it wasn't my favorite book in the series, I loved cheering for D.J. on the sidelines as good things finally happened to her. D.J. has so much going on and the pressure is really getting to her. One of her good friends (Beaner) publicly announces that he has a big interest in D.J., while Beaner is funny and fun to be around, Brian suddenly comes back into the picture. D.J. finds herself torn between to great guys. I have to admit even though Brian hurt D.J., I was glad he made an appearance. Then there's Win and almost everyone in Red Bend pressuring her about calling college coaches and whether or not to play Big Ten basketball. D.J. has a having a hard time deciding what she really want to do, tied in with her inability to talk to people, leads to D.J. in very uncomfortable situations. D.J. learns that Schwenks have never been good at talking, but that's exactly what everyone's telling her to do. One of the few things I didn't like, was the fact that D.J. was always complicating things and that the story was written in a narrative style, not really "showing" what happened, but just explaining it. 

Although there were a lot of things that I really loved. First off, I loved D.J.'s character, Catherine Murdock does a great job in creating a unique character with very common thoughts and concerns. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments, I loved reading D.J.'s commentary on the world. I loved her family almost as much, although her family has obvious flaws, they're always there for each especially when it matter most. My favorite part about the whole series was the ending, it wasn't too perfect, but it was realistic, it was a perfect way to end D.J.'s story. Overall, it was a good read, for those of you who read the first two books in the series, you won't be disappointed.