Christmas Books Giveaway Hop

 Welcome to my stop on the Christmas Books Giveaway Hop. The hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Laurie Here. Tons of other blogs are participating. To see the full list and hop along for the chance to win some great books go HERE.

I'm giving away two (2) books to one (1) winner! Someone will receive both Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn and Decked with Holly by Marni Bates. 

The details: 

• You must be 13 or older to enter. 
• This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.
• Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.
• This contest will run until December 8, 12:01 AM.
• Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner. 
• Good luck and thanks for entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday - Most Anticipated in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is: Top Ten Most Anticipated Books For 2013

1. Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

I've never been so excited for an author team. So excited to see what happens when these two amazing authors work together. 

2. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

I just finished this INCREDIBLE book. I can't wait to share it with EVERYONE.

3. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

1950's New Orleans? Yes, please.

4. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I accidentally read a huge spoiler for Clockwork Prince and got really cranky. I refuse to finish Clockwork Prince until Clockwork Princess comes out so I know it's going to be okay. And I really want to finish listening to Ed Westwick narrate.

5. Goddess by Josephine Angelini

NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

6. Detergent (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
I'm just as excited to find out the real name of book three as I am to see what happens after that punch of an ending in book two.

7. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Re-telling of Bluebeard! I'm SO excited to see how this great, dark fairytale is adapted.

8. Dark Triumph by R. L. LaFevers

Grave Mercy was pretty epic and definitely one of my best reads in 2012. Can't wait to read Sybella's story.

9. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

More Sarah Dessen! She never disappoints.

10. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi 

Under the Never Sky blew away all my expectations. I fell in love with these characters and this world. I can't wait to go back.

...and I'm Cheating.

11.  Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Because Stephanie Perkins is my go-to re-read author. I'm very much looking forward to having another book to go back to when I've lost the happiness in reading.

The Liar Society - Lisa & Laura Roecker

Synopsis: Since when do the dead send emails?
Kate Lowry's best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate's more than a little confused.
Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace's death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining armor-the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her lovestruck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them-even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder... (From Goodreads)

 As a reader who rarely seeks out mystery novels, I was so happy to find myself enthralled with this one right away. It has the perfect blend of snooty private school and jaded, snarky main character. It was also the right amount fun and the right amount pure horror. Plus, there was a touch of romance and healing to pull me in emotionally. As far as mystery novels go, this one is awesome.

Kate kind of clashes with her private school, and I love it. She appears to fit in, despite the pink hair, yet there's something just a little off about her. When it comes to secret societies and age old traditions, she seems like she's the only one who could possibly find their dirty laundry and bring them down. And it's because she doesn't quite fit. She's also the only one who really doesn't have anything left to lose. One of the wonderful things about investing in Kate's story is watching her grow from having nothing to getting new friends, a purpose, and to move on with life.

There are pieces of this book that just remind me so much of Gilmore Girls. Kate has a bit of Lorelei's humor and all the secret society stuff reminds me a lot of the Puffs and the Life and Death Brigade. Although, the secret societies that Kate deals with are a lot more skeletons in the closet than just secret fun times. There were moments where my heart was actually racing because of something intense happening. One part that includes a clock tower, the ghost of a girl who committed suicide, and a group of people with candles had my pulse racing like crazy. It might be one of the most bone-chilling moments I've read in a long time.

I don't know if this has ever happened to you guys - but do you ever love a book even more after you've met the author(s)? It happened to me with this book. I met them at the Get Real tour stop in New York. They are bundles of fun energy and they are amazingly sweet women. I had so much fun meeting them, and hearing their voices behind Kate's story just makes it all that much more alive. I now love The Liar Society that much more and I'm even more stoked to read Lies that Bind. Can't wait to see what trouble Kate can unearth next.

Crewel - Gennifer Albin

Synopsis: Incapable. Awkward. Artless.
That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.
Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.
Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.
Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back. (From Goodreads)

In a really cool way, Gennifer Albin managed to take the concept of time and existence and mould it into something tangible. I loved the idea of the Spinsters and the way they create their own world. It's something really beautiful, but on the flipside it's unsettling. Because these women have the power to create and they also have the power to destroy. A person can literally be erased from existence just by having a girl rip their thread out of the tapestry.

I was totally sold on reading this book when I heard Gennifer Albin read a passage from the book. It was a scene where Adelice creates a thunderstorm. I'm a sucker for rain and thunder, and the writing was so gorgeous and vivid. I just had to know what else this book contained. It is a very beautifully written book. These scenes come to life effortlessly and there are some images, like the thunderstorms, that I just wish I could have stepped into.

I also loved the gender roles that are explored in this story. The women should have all the control, but they don't. The world literally would not exist without them, yet they still have little power. It's a little hard to understand how men got control in the first place, but they did and they're very good at keeping it. They're also great at making sure relationships either don't happen or end very badly, so everyone is scared just to love somebody. It's heartbreaking, but effective. Even the most powerful women have a hard time controlling their own lives, which is so backwards.

The other really cool thing about this book was the similarities it had with The Giver. I don't mean this in a rip-off way. I mean in a great tip-of-the-hat kind of way. There's the whole - I have to tell you all about this world and you will be the only one to bear this burden - thing going on. I think that's an important part of dystopian fiction that seems to get overlooked - only a handful of people really know about the secrets that created their society - a handful at the most - the stakes are higher when there are only two people.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I'm a little worried about where it left off. I'm not entirely sure I'm going to like where book two goes, but I'll probably still keep going because there are some things I still want to know and Gennifer is a great writer. Whether you agree with me on the ending of book one or not, I do think it's definitely worth reading because it is a pretty wonderful novel.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Synopsis: Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? (From Goodreads)

What impresses me so much about Michelle Hodkin's writing is the way that she's so ambiguous about sanity. I usually think Mara is sane and there are crazy things happening to her, but other times I'm like...is she actually making all of this up in her head...??? I have no idea. And that's what makes this book awesome and so different from other books out there. Plus, even if she's making everything up - it's still freaking intense and scary.

So I freaked out a lot while reading this. For two main reasons. One. The creepiness. Things dying, things chasing her, people stalking, creepy dolls. Seriously, holy snicklefritz. Most of the things that go down in this book give me shivers and make me want to curl up in the corner and cry a little.

The second reason? Duh. NOAH. This boy just gets dreamier every time he opens his mouth. And says lovely, sometimes scandalous, things with his British accent. He may be one of the swooniest boys ever. Ever. Always want more Noah.

If you loved Unbecoming don't hesitate to pick up Evolution. It lives up to book one and then some. I'm cutting this short to avoid spoiler territory. All I can say is - it's fantastic. I love it. Read it.

P.S. Watch the trailer. Especially if you love Noah, or if you need to be convinced to start reading these books and want to love Noah.

Ten - Gretchen McNeil

Synopsis: It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.
But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine. Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine? (From Goodreads)

(Can't help it, this review is going to be a little bit spoilery. I won't give away the end or anything major, but if you're intent on knowing information only when it comes to light in the book then you may want to avoid my review. I apologize, but there's just some things I want to say.)

I purposely left this book until a couple days before Halloween. Last year I read Possess on Halloween as my own nerdy version of celebrating the holiday. And Possess scared the pants off me. For the first time ever, I understood Joey's impulse to put The Shining in the freezer (Friends reference...). So I was really excited to celebrate Halloween again this year with Ten. While it didn't frighten me as much as Possess did, it's still has some pretty terrifying moments. Or at least images that are difficult to shake from your mind.

In the actual terrifying department, Ten fell a little short. I never felt the need to turn on all the lights or swear off ever visiting a remote island. Part of that, I think was that I never really felt attached to the characters. Meg, Minnie, and T.J. were the reasons I kept reading, but the urgency to keep them alive just wasn't there. There were a lot of characters dying pretty quickly so no one really stuck around long enough to really get to know. And okay, the video playing is terrifying (especially if you've watched the book trailer) and there's a scene in the next door neighbor's house that made me me swear a few times. So it has its moments.

The Meg, Minnie, T.J. triangle was definitely fun. Minnie is pretty legit crazy and her energy is misplaced when people are being murdered all around her. Meg and T.J. were a great couple to root for.

What I did love about this book though is it's a much more evil version of 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. It really shows you the way you affect people even in the smallest ways. Someone was really hurt and the characters in the house were a part of making her unhappy. Then they all die in ways fitting to their crimes. It's crazy. But I did love that aspect to it.

If you're a Gretchen McNeil fan, if you like stories about revenge and justice, or if you like mysteries that are a bit reminiscent of the Fear Street series, then definitely give this book a shot. It feels like a 90's horror movie, actually. And I kind of like that.

Losing It Dream Cast

Synopsis of Losing It: Virginity. Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier. (From Goodreads)

I read Losing It by Cora Cormack a couple weeks ago and I really loved it. It was super adorable and it made me want to cuddle. 

Anyways, my roommate, Jackie, and I have been talking about it and we came up with our dream cast together. So, um, we're ready for this movie to be made now. Please. 

BLISS :: Missy Peregrym (Stick It)

We like that she's girl next door, but she still has a lot of personality. We can totally imagine her making up a fictional cat to, ahem, get out of certain situations. 

GARRICK :: Tim Phillips (The Secret Circle)

Okay, we know he's Australian, but it's the fact that he has an accent and the dimply smile that makes him a great Garrick. We can definitely see him reading Shakespeare in a bar and sneaking behind stage curtains. 

CADE :: Zac Efron (The Lucky One)

Admission: We thought Cade was gay for a good portion of the book. Zac Efron is uber adorable, but he has that ambiguity - we know he's straight, but sometimes we wonder. 

KELSEY :: Candace Accola (The Vampire Diaries)

We love Kelsey's strong personality and commitment to having fun. Candace can be peppy and snarky and she'd just make a great best friend. Plus, can't you just see Candace and Missy ripping up the town and making everyone jealous?

New Adult Celebration - Measuring Interest

Hello friends.
I'm OBSESSING over New Adult and I want to share this with everyone. I'm thinking about hosting a month/a tour/some sort of celebration that's completely focused on New Adult books and authors. To be honest, I don't have details down. I want to gage interest in this first. I believe in these books, but I'm also very busy, so unless I can get help I don't know that I'd be able to do it justice.
At this point, I'd just love to know if you'd be on board to help me out with this event in some sort of capacity.

If you're a blogger: I'm definitely looking for someone to co-host this event with me! This would mean contacting authors and bloggers. Helping me schedule posts and keep everything organized. If you want to co-host, I'd need you to have enough time to help out and to be able to spread the word about the event.

I'd also love to spread this out into the blogsphere as much as possible, so I want to put up posts on as many blogs as possible! If you are interested in being some sort of tour stop, let me know!

Also - if you're good at design, I'll need some buttons and banners. If you'd like to donate your time in that fashion, that would be incredible.

If you're an author: I won't be able to do this with out your participation! If you've written a New Adult novel and want to participate, let me know. I'm looking for authors to write guest posts, do interviews, character interviews, and maybe donate some swag or a copy of your book for giveaways!

For Readers: If you're just interested in following a tour like this, that's helpful information. If you don't have a blog or a book and would just like to write a post about why you read or love New Adult lit, that would be awesome.

For Everyone: Please fill out the form below if this is something you want to see happen or if you want to participate. I'd love to make this happen!

Top Ten Tuesday - Shut Up, I'm not Crying...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books That Turned Me Into a Sobbing Mess

1. If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

I haven't cried this hard over a book, possibly ever. And (un)luckily it was around my brother, who happens to laugh at me every time I cry. But still, this book is so powerful that it's hard not to sob.

2. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I cried through the. whole. book. Every time I thought I could stop, something else just crashed into me.

3. Black City by Elizabeth Richards

This one sneak attacked me. All of a sudden, everything just built up and then whoa, waterworks.

4. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Still not sure what exactly it is about this book that presses my emotional buttons. Guess it just hits really close to home.

5. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

You go into this one knowing it's going to crush your soul. But you go through it because you know it will be beautiful.

6. In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Page one. Military funeral. Cue tears.

7. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

I don't handle abuse well.

8. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Noah and Echo go through so much. It's hard not to get emotional watching them struggle.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

When Harry goes into the woods. I couldn't even see the page.

10. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
 
So many military books right now. Every single one gets me. In this one, it was his mom. 

Black City - Elizabeth Black

Synopsis: In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths. (From Goodreads)

This book is absolutely stunning. I mean that in both senses of the word. The writing is beautiful, the world is gritty and vivid, and the plot flows together effortlessly. It's stunning in an aesthetic way and it's stunning in an emotional way. More than once, I had to pause and absorb the story. Because I was shocked over and over. Every conception I had about soul mates, love at first sight, love triangles, love in general was totally turned on its head. I actually have a different view on love after reading this book. It changed me.

While the dystopia politics are pretty standard - bleak outlook, little hope, on the brink of war, victimized minorities, and a scheming lying government - it's still somehow unlike anything I've read. It's darker and the stakes are higher. Death is looming everywhere, drugs are the only way for most to survive, and then there's the genocide. This book has an interesting take on othering - Darklings have vampiric qualities, but it's hard to call them vampires. They're different, somehow. And then the twin bloods, like Ash, who are half Darkling, half human and can live with out a heartbeat. This was a great twist and that really gave Elizabeth an opening to do some pretty epic things with Ash and Natalie's relationship.

The love between Ash and Natalie really brings life and beauty into such a harsh reality. The way their relationship progresses is where all the magic is. I won't elaborate for this reason, but I just have to say that it's intense and inspiring. These are two people who are fighting against two different sets of obstacles - the ones created by society and the ones that fate put there for them. And it's not really a question as to whether their love is strong enough to over-take it, but whether they are individually strong enough to fight for each other and for taking the hard road. It's clear their love is strong, but that fact has other implications - it's not as clear cut as you might expect love to be.

Everything in this book took me by surprise. It tapped into my emotions, it messed with my head, it flowed into me and became a part of me. This book shook things up in a way that I didn't expect. It's brilliant. I'm awed by this story. I want to know these characters, I want to fight for them.

New Adult Obsession

You may have noticed that the blog has been awful quiet this past week and I have such a good reason for that. Besides working, I've been obsessively reading every New Adult title I could get my hands on. I've read a couple here and there, but then I read Beautiful Disaster, followed by Easy and then I became greedy. I'm in love with this blossoming field of literature. Because I've been spending so much time immersing myself in these books, I just wanted to create a sort of guide to what I've been reading in the New Adult genre. 

Easy by Tammara Webber

You guys. This book pushed me over from the - hey, this genre is pretty great to the OBSESSION side of the fandom line. It's so good!
Read this if: You want a great story about a girl who learns how to defend herself and takes control of her own life. And finds a hot/smart boy along the way. 

 Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Tammara Webber Online: Blog :: Facebook

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

This book is like watching a trainwreck that is happening IN a tornado that is about to rip through a town. It's insane, it's crazy, it's a little painful to go through. But the emotion is so raw that you have to know what happens because you're so invested in the story.
Read this if: You want to understand what Eminem means when he says, "Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano / All I know is I love you too much to walk away though."

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Jamie McGuire Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook

Because of Low by Abbi Glines

I read this awhile ago, aware of, but not quite understanding of, the New Adult categorization. It's intense and emotional and wonderful. Abbi Glines is a great writer.
Read this if: You want to feel ALL the feelings. 

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Abbi Glines Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook

While it Lasts by Abbi Glines

A companion novel to Because of Low. Country boy. So hot. And watching Cage soften a little made me all melty. The companion to both of these novels Just for Now came out this week. Haven't read it yet, but I have no doubts it will be just as amazing.
Read this if: You like country boys. Even if you don't. Cage is...just yum. 

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Abbi Glines Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook

Shattered by Elizabeth Lee

I adore this book. More country boys. I've always associated with a small town, wanting to get out and feeling stuck. I related to Alyssa so well. Even though I've never lost anybody that close to me, I still understood her pain and her motivation. This is a great story about finding peace and strength...and a hot boy along the way.
Read this if: You want to read about characters with great backgrounds. Or see two people come together despite all of the pain in their memories together. 

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Elizabeth Lee Online: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook

My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron

This book was straight up cute. There's a lot of turmoil that these characters experience, but it never weighs down the story. This one is great for a quick New Adult fix, if you're like me and thoroughly addicted.
Read this if: You want to watch two people act like they don't love each other, so they fight really adorably instead.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Chelsea M. Cameron Online: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

I was giggling through this whole book, and not in my head and not very quietly. Sometimes I think I worry my roommates with my verbal reactions and this is one of those books where I had a lot. Julie was such a refreshing character and the narration was wonderful. This book is highly recommended (and not as racy as most New Adult books - quite possibly appropriate for YA audiences).
Read this if: You want to laugh and get completely absorbed in the lives of great, well rounded characters.

Goodreads :: Amazon 

Jessica Park Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook

Losing It by Cora Carmack

British boy. I have such an embarrassing weakness for the accents. But Garrick is dreamy for other reasons. Ok, the ending of this one made me kind of rage-y, but that's for my own personal screwed up reasons. It's probably a pretty sweet ending. But yeah, the super sweet, hot British boy makes this book totally great.
Read this if: You have a thing for accents and you want to read a fun coming of age story. Also, if you like snuggling. 

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Cora Carmack Online: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook

Fall Guy by Liz Reinhardt

Totally intense and frustrating. But SO good. The character development in this book is great. It always makes me happy when two characters evolve because of one another - in a healthy way, not in a lose yourself in the other and forget who you are way. So glad this book was recommended to me.
Read this if: You want to read a classic story of two people from totally different backgrounds coming together. Also, if you like bad boys who are hard to figure out, but are secretly really adorable.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Liz Reinhardt Online: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook

On Deck:

Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

This was a new find two days ago. Pretty excited, I have to say.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble
A. Meredith Walters Online: Blog :: Facebook

And, like a true addict, I NEED MORE. So please, if you have suggestions, throw them at me! 

Dark Star - Bethany Frenette

Synopsis: Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it's hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she's lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human--something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile. 
Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn't fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers--livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin. 
To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person's memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers' next move. But Leon, her mother's bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won't let Audrey out of his sight. When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything--and everyone--she loves. (From Goodreads)

Superheroes. in. Minneapolis. OMG. It's about time someone recognized Minneapolis for superhero setting potential. Plus. Plus! It mentions my hometown. You have no idea how happy this makes me - because people who LIVE in Minnesota vary rarely have actually heard of my hometown. So awesome.

Oh yeah, the book itself. Blew me away. Because not only does it have an awesome setting, but the story and the characters are pretty epic as well. When you have a superhero for a mother, of course nothing is normal - but then you throw in some demons and family heritage, then things start getting crazy. I love that Audrey isn't normal, she has a talent (seeing the future), but she isn't the most powerful. She's still super important and a kick-ass heroine. It is so easy to root for Audrey and the cast of characters that surround her are incredible. Her mom is strong, even if she's a little absent (hey, keeping Minneapolis safe is an around the clock job). Her best friends are great - a girl with a blond pixie cut who wears a lot of glitter, nicknamed Tink and Gideon the super-energetic best friend.

Ohhhkay, and LEON. The boy has teleportation powers. And he uses them so adorably. It's great at building tension and frustration - he disappears when things escalate (fights, potential romantic moments, etc...) which is annoying, but in a good way. Not to mention - there's a baking fight in which his teleportation is used very effectively. Of course, this works well the other way around - he's very good at popping in at the best moments. Not to mention he's adorable. It was precious watching him and Audrey's relationship evolve.

The superhero lore, the group that supports the superheroes, and the superheroes themselves were all handled very well. This alternate reality of Minneapolis felt so real and it was so easy to fall into this story. I loved their history and the way that Audrey fit into the group dynamic. She's figuring out where she fits in the grand scheme of things, all the while coming to terms with who she is and who her family is. Very true to teenage drama. But with magical twists, everything is so much more intense.

If you can't tell, I'm all gushy over this book. Reading it on the train was rather difficult, because it was hard not to paint my emotions all over my face while reading it. It gets kind of embarrassing to grin like an idiot or have your eyes wide in horror, for no good reason. But oh well. So worth it. I love this books so much. I was sold on Minneapolis, completely excited when my hometown was mentioned, but the rest of it just made me fall hopelessly. Don't miss this amazing book!