Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Review: City of Bones

Review: Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Review:The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

"Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along"



Review:

Plot: The plot was decent, there are things about it and things I didn't like about it. The thing that I liked the most about the plot was the whole summer romance idea, but then it got weird. The love triangle was strange and I thought Belly didn't really know what she wanted and it got confusing. The only other element in the plot is that Conrad starts acting different and no one knows why and that Belly thinks there something going on with Susannah.

Characters: The characters are this books biggest downfall. I have never ever read a more annoying main character than Belly. She was selfish and spoiled. Most of the book was her complaining about not fitting in with the boys, and her bestfriend, and she didn't like anything her dad did to make her feel comfortable at his new apartment. I couldn't understand why Belly like Conrad, he was boring and mean. I also didn't really like Cam that much, he just annoyed me. The only characters I liked were Jeremiah and Susannah. They were the only characters that I could actually relate with.

Writing: The writing was pretty good, there wasn't anything that really stood out to me, but it wasn't bad. The were also flash back chapters that I really liked and thought that was a good idea.The book was also well paced.

Overall: I thought this book was just okay. If the characters were a little better I would have liked the book a lot more. The ending was very good and very suprising, and that's the only reason I want to read the next book. I give it a 2.5/5.

Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Vlog Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Brief Review: Someone Like you by Sarah Dessen

"Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever."

Brief Review
Someone Like You is a classic Sarah Dessen novel, and if you have read Sarah Dessen you know exactly what I mean. Sarah Dessen always has heavy topics in her novels that are handled in a light way, but they still teach a lesson. In Someone Like You those issues include death, teenage pregnancy, and differences between a teen and a parent. I really enjoyed Someone Like You, it was a light easy read. Sarah Dessen's writing style makes it very easy to read quickly through a book. This book always had something interesting going on and there was never a time I found myself bored with the book. If you enjoy Sarah's novels then I highly recommend reading this. If you are a person that despise's chick-lit, stay far away. I personally enjoy a nice easy chick-lit read every once in a while and really liked this book. I gave it a 9/10.


Quotes

" That was, I was sure, the destiny in store for me until the day Scarlett looked up from behind those white sunglasses and made a spot for me next to her for the rest of my life. And I was grateful. Because life is an ugly, awful place not to have a best friend." Pg. 23

"There are some things in this world you rely on, like a sure bet. And when they let you down, shifting from where you carefully placed them, it shakes your faith, right where you stand." pg. 197

Review: Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

"Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.







Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival." -From goodreads.com


Review
I was very excited to read this book after seeing the preview for the movie, but I was very disapointed in this book. I thought it was going to be a great love story but thats not what it was. It did have a love story in it but thats not really what it focused on. The book was honestly a little boring in some parts but it was still a good book. I feel like I find that adult books aren't as exciting as YA, and that's probably part of the reason I didn't like it very much. The book had a lot of good of lessons to be learned though, and I really appreciate that. Don't get me wrong, this was a good story it just wasn't told in a very interesting way. If you normally read adult books I think that you might enjoy this book but if your mostly a YA reader you probably will feel the same way as I do. I give this book a 7.5/10.

Quotes

"I am ninety, or ninety-three. One or the other." Pg. 5

"I stare at his face, trying to maintain eye contact, but it's difficult because he's zooming away from me, receding to the end of a long black tunnel. Stars explode in my peripheral vision." Pg. 17

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

"Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…







Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.






When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.






But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart." - From goodreads.com


Review:
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It wasn't what I was expecting. I felt this book was Alice in Wonderland but with fairy charcters. In the beginning I honestly thought it was really lame, but it did get better. I really loved Grimalkin, he was my favorite character. I liked Ash a lot too. Megan was kind of annoying, but I always seem to find a problem with the main character. Julie Kagawa's writing was alright, it wasn't the best I've ever seen. This book, for me, didn't live up to all of the hype but it grew on me at the end. I think that huge fantasy lovers would like this book a lot more than I did because I'm more of a dystopian fan. Overall, this book was pretty good and I will be finishing the series. I also love the cover! I gave this book a 8/10. 


Quotes:
"Silence greeted me, echoing off the walls and floor, hanging heavy in the air. The stillness was almost a living thing, crouched in the center of the room, watching me with cold eyes. My heart began a loud, irregular thug in my chest. Something was wrong." Pg. 48

"Ash still held my hand. Gently, I tried pulling back, but he wasn't letting go. I glanced up and found his face inches from mine, his eyes searingly bright in the shadows of the room." Pg. 239

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

                                       " Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in " - From goodreads.com
 
 
 
 
 
Review:
 

I had very high expectations for this book after readind Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, and I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations. This book is so heart warming and well written. There isn't much I can say about this book except that it is amazing and is a must read. This book also takes place in Portland, ME, and I live just outside of Portland, so I knew all of the places she was talking about and could actually picture where she was in my head. That for me was pretty cool. If you love love stories, if you love dystopian, if you loved Before I Fall, then I'm pretty sure you will love Delirium. Another thing I would love to point out is the ending is not predictable at all, but I loved the ending. My sister and mother both read this book and hated the ending, so I would love to know what you guys think of it. This book is probably my new favorite book after Before I Fall, so I think it's safe to say Lauren Oliver is probably one of my favorite authors. This book gets a 10/10!

 

 

Here are some quotes from the book....

 

"Hearts are fragile things. That's why we have to be so careful." Pg. 8

 

"As soon as I look up, his eyes click onto my face. The breath whooshes out of my body and everything freezes  for a second, as though I'm looking at him throughmy camera lens, zoomed in all the way, the world pausing for that span of time between the opening and closing of the shutters." Pg. 38

 

 "A curious ache throbs in the back of my throat, even though of course this is how things are: Everything ends, people move on, they don't look back. It's how they should be." Pg. 95

 

"All I can think is: it will kill me, it will kill me, it will kill me. And I don't care." Pg. 233

 

"It's us against them, three against countless thousands. But for some reason, and even though its absurd, at that moment i feel pretty damn good about our odds." Pg. 253

 

"I know that life isn't life if you just float through it. I know the whole point- the only point- is to find the things that matter, and hold on to them, and refuse to let them go." Pg. 383

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

"Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been a part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibilty for countless lives, and to change the course of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost. "


First of all, I recommend not reading this review if you have not read the first two books in the series. I have reviews on both of the first two books on my blog. Also, I'm going to do this review half non spoiler and half spoiler. Chapter Chick style. I will warn you in big letters or something when the spoiler section is coming. Another thing I started doing is writing down quotes that I liked while I was reading. I'm not going to share all of them with you but I while share a few of my favorites. I will also make sure to put them in the right sections (non- spoiler and spoiler) so nothing gets ruined if you haven't read the book.


NON-SPOILER:

"In his interview, he tried to protect me from the Capitol and rebels alike, and not only have I failed to protect him, I've brought down more horrors upon him." Pg. 116

"Here began countless days of hunting and snaring, fishing and gathering, roaming together through the woods, unloading our thoughts while we filled our game bags. This was the doorway to both sustenance and sanity. And we were each other's key." Pg. 127

"What will break me? This is the question that consumes me over the next three days as we wait to be released from our prison of safety. What will break me into a million pieces so that I am beyond repair, beyond usefulness? I mention it to no one, but it devours my waking hours and weaves itself throughout my nightmares." Pg. 152


I picked those three qoutes to share with you because it shows how amazing Suzanne Collins can write. Her writing is so descriptive but in an unique way. I've said this before about her writing but I can say it again, I find myself reading parts over and over because I can't get over the way they're written. I obviously love the series like I've said in my Hunger Games and Catching Fire reviews. Some parts of this book I hated, I'm not going to lie I hated them so much but the ending made up for it. A lot of people didn't like the ending, but I loved it so much. It's what I wanted to happen and for the most part I thought it was going to turn out the way I didn't want it too. Maybe thats why I hated some parts? I don't know. Another thing I loved about this book and the whole series is how unpredictable it is. You think that one thing is going to happen and then all of a sudden the opposite happens. The relationships in this series are good I think. The only one that turns me off is the relationship between Katniss and her mother. Overall, if you love dystopia you will love this book, and even if your not a fan of dystopia you should check it out anyways. I give this book a 9.5/10 and the whole series a 28/30 (added up all of my ratings on each book).

Now the spoiler section. Please do not read if you do not want to be spoiled.







SPOILER SECTION!









CAUTION!



Alrighty I'm so excited for this new edition to my reviews!

So, can I just say OMG to the ending? I'm so happy that Katniss ended up with Peeta! If she was with Gale I would have ripped the book apart and put all three in the trash (just kidding :]). No, but I wouldn't have liked the book so much, that is for sure. Also, for me it came out of no where when Peeta and Katniss saw each other for the first time since the Quarter Quell and he started choking her! I was like " awww how cute they get to see each other and be happy again!" and then her starts choking her. I think my jaw was dropped for the next 20 minutes. I'm so glad that he went back to loving her though. I will put in a qoute that I really like between Peeta and Katniss at the end. I loved the whole hijacking idea, I thought it was a great twist to the story. A twist to the story that I didn't like was Prim's death. Katniss and Prim had such a loving relationship and everything Katniss did was to protect Prim. I didn't really understand how Prim got in front of Snow's mansion though, does anyone want to clear that up? One thing that really made me mad, but I think was great to put in the story, Gale completely forgot about about Katniss at the end of the book. I thought he would at least talk to Katniss, maybe it was spite because Katniss chose Peeta. But then again, didn't she choose Peeta because Gale wasn't around anymore? I don't know, but either way I'm happy she's with Peeta.

I can't wait for the movie to come out! But I can't believe they chose Jennifer Lawernce for Katniss. Katniss has dark hair and silver eyes and she's not supposed to be pretty. Jennifer Lawernce is gorgeous with blond hair and high cheek bones and she looks way to mature for Katniss. Does anyone agree?

Okay, one more quote.....

"I clench his hands to the point of pain. "Stay with me?"
His pupils contract to pin points, dilate again rapidly, and then return to something rese,bling normalcy. "Always," he murmurs." Pg. 314

Favorite quote between Peeta and Katniss, and in the whole series! Happy reading :)

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I strongly suggest that you do NOT read this review if you have not read the first book, The Hunger Games. I do not want to be held responsible for spoiling such an amazing

I love this book, I love this whole series. They are amazing and if you haven't read them yet I dont know why. They are truly amazing and full of excitment and suspense. The way Suzanne Collins rights is so vivid and I found myself going back and re-reading parts because they were written so well. I think it's obvious I love this book, but I do have to say liked the first one better because that's the book where you see Katniss and Peeta's relationship develop. I really enjoyed the arena part of the first book. I feel like in the second book the first half was slow because there were a lot of things that needed to happen before the exciting parts could happen. These are great books and I highly recommend them to anyone. This book gets a 9/10.

Review: Captivate by Carrie Jones

• 273 Pages 
• Published January 5th, 2010 by Bloomsbury USA
• 8.5/10    

 

"   Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his." (From Goodreads.com)     

 

 

   I  liked Captivate a lot more than the first book Need. Most of the problems I had with Need weren't in Captivate, except Zara still doesn't have any common sense. I found Captivate to be more interesting than Need as well and it was paced better. I really liked that there was a bit of a love triangle forming. Also, I thought the characters were a lot more developed and I LOVE Astley, way more than Nick. These books were worth a read, there not amazing but they are pretty good. There is not that much more I can really say about this book with out spoiling it, but it was good and I would recommend them to a fantasy lover. Happy reading!                 

Review: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

"Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened
the night she and Sophie stopped being friends." (from goodreads.com) 

 371 pages

Published April 6th 2006 by Viking Juvenile 

9/10 

   Just Listen was a very heart warming story and I really liked it. Annabel is such a well developed character and it is sad to watch her struggle. The night Annabel and Sophie stop being friends something very tragic happens to Annabel, and for the most part you have a pretty good idea what it is but when it is explained it is sad and hard to read about. Also, Annabel is a very closed off person and does not like to talk about anything that has happened to her, but when she meets Owen she finds out very quickly that he is the opposite. I wanted Annabel to open up to Owen and tell him exactly what happen, and I would get angry with her when she wouldn't. I also really loved Owen, he was a very well developed character, and if there was a chapter or two where he was not present I found myself waiting for him to pop back up.

    If you have read other Sarah Dessen novels, you are probably fimilar with her very popular plot line. (Girl meets boy, they get closer, then fight, then make up and date.) Just Listen follows that same Sarah Dessen plot line, which I expect from Sarah Dessen, but I still wish she would stray away from that more often. In this book nothing very shocking happens and it's probably not going to be the best book you ever read. With that being said, it is still a good book. I think that Sarah Dessen deals with a lot of heavy topics, in a light easy to read way. I like that about this novel and her others. I felt like the topic of anorexia in this book is very real but I feel like the other main issue it has in it is not as real and is more sugarcoated. 

     Overall, I really liked this book and I still love Sarah Dessen even though she's not that original. I would recommend this book if you wanted a nice easy read that has some meaning. I will be reading more Sarah Dessen in the near future, and hopefully I will be surprised with a different plot line!