The first bonus scene from Garrick's POV! YES! Keep pre-ordering Faking It so we can get those other three scenes!
-------------------------------
Friday, May 10, 2013
Pre-order Faking It!
Pre-order Faking It! We definitely want those scenes from Garrick's POV!! And if you haven't read Losing It, get on that!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey
::Review by Jackie Lindert::
Synopsis: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
I have to admit, this was the first book I've read about aliens. I hadn't gone out of my way to avoid the subject, but I certainly wasn't searching for a good "alien" book. Having said that, I don't know if I will search for another one because this book set the bar! It was incredible and mind-blowingly real.
From the very beginning, The 5th Wave freaked me out (in a good way!). The details the author comes up with make the possibility of alien invasion not only seem real, but it's so creative. I've seen movies with alien invasions, but I've never thought of the tactics they use in such freaky ways. I kind of want to call everyone I know and come up with a just-in-case-of-an-alien-apocalypse plan.
You never know what's coming in The 5th Wave. Just when you are convinced to trust no one and be skeptical of everything, the book STILL manages to throw a twist or two at you; each which blew my mind.
I love getting the different points of view in this book. At first it threw me for a loop, but it is done so well that I can't picture it any other way. Yancey is a genius. His characters are also kick ass. What I love about Cassie, the main character, is that she starts out as just any shy, high school girl, but toughens up and becomes so brave. Guys and girls are equal in this book. They save each other. There are no damsels in distress left because they have been wiped out. Only the strong are left, and they are teetering on the line between crazy and courageous.
Another great part about the book is that all the characters start to really question what it is to be human. It's pretty trippy reading their thoughts. Like I've said repeatedly, it seems so real. The humanity question goes beyond a philosophical thought...they are literally unsure if they can hold on to what makes them compassionate human beings while trying to stay alive.
The last thing I'll say about The 5th Wave is that the humor and sarcasm balances out a lot of the morbid parts. It keeps you somewhat sane and grounded during your trip through a chilling world, and it's all perfectly timed. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Seriously though, even if you've never thought about reading a book with aliens, read this book. It will blow your mind.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
I have to admit, this was the first book I've read about aliens. I hadn't gone out of my way to avoid the subject, but I certainly wasn't searching for a good "alien" book. Having said that, I don't know if I will search for another one because this book set the bar! It was incredible and mind-blowingly real.
From the very beginning, The 5th Wave freaked me out (in a good way!). The details the author comes up with make the possibility of alien invasion not only seem real, but it's so creative. I've seen movies with alien invasions, but I've never thought of the tactics they use in such freaky ways. I kind of want to call everyone I know and come up with a just-in-case-of-an-alien-apocalypse plan.
You never know what's coming in The 5th Wave. Just when you are convinced to trust no one and be skeptical of everything, the book STILL manages to throw a twist or two at you; each which blew my mind.
I love getting the different points of view in this book. At first it threw me for a loop, but it is done so well that I can't picture it any other way. Yancey is a genius. His characters are also kick ass. What I love about Cassie, the main character, is that she starts out as just any shy, high school girl, but toughens up and becomes so brave. Guys and girls are equal in this book. They save each other. There are no damsels in distress left because they have been wiped out. Only the strong are left, and they are teetering on the line between crazy and courageous.
Another great part about the book is that all the characters start to really question what it is to be human. It's pretty trippy reading their thoughts. Like I've said repeatedly, it seems so real. The humanity question goes beyond a philosophical thought...they are literally unsure if they can hold on to what makes them compassionate human beings while trying to stay alive.
The last thing I'll say about The 5th Wave is that the humor and sarcasm balances out a lot of the morbid parts. It keeps you somewhat sane and grounded during your trip through a chilling world, and it's all perfectly timed. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Seriously though, even if you've never thought about reading a book with aliens, read this book. It will blow your mind.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Blog Tour + Giveaway: Because of You by TE Sivec
--------------------------------------------------------
Release Date: April 29, 2013Purchase Links: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: Goodreads
About Because of You: Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way. He's struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly. When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow, he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice does he have?
Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she's never felt more alone in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter's life and will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using herdaughter to get there. When an overlyamorous fan's letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside their differences before the letters become a reality and someone's life is in jeopardy.
Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good.
Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.
--------------------------------------------------------
The plot of the book involves a stalker and the betrayal of someone who Layla completely trusts. The whole situation spirals out of control and the twists keep coming. I always had suspicions about what would happen next, but I could never really be sure. Sometimes it was easy to predict and other times it was a complete shock.
If you're a reader of mystery and romance, I think you'll definitely enjoy this book. Just be aware that it is for mature readers.
--------------------------------------------------------
About T.E. Sivec: This is the pen name of Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she writes romantic suspence novels. T.E. Sivec lives in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a full-time writer.
--------------------------------------------------------
Giveaway
Up for grabs is a swag pack, which will include a signed paperback copy of Because of You as well as a tote bag and lots of other fun goodies!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Going Vintage - Lindsey Leavitt (Guest Review)
I'm so excited to have the amazing Emily from (YA)Y! Books on the blog today sharing her thoughts on Going Vintage!
Synopsis: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.
When Mallory’s boyfriend cheats on her online, she swears off technology and decides to live like they did in the 1960s. Inspired by a list found in her grandmother’s diary from 1962, Mallory decides to make her life simpler. But of course, little goes according to plan, and going vintage makes everything more complicated.
About Emily: Emily Ritter found her dream job working in the marketing department of a children's publisher. When she's not reading books, she's watching sports and eating ice cream. She blogs about YA books at yay-books.blogspot.com and general NFL shenanigans at aeryssports.com/aerys-offsides. One time she married a trophy!
Synopsis: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.
When Mallory’s boyfriend cheats on her online, she swears off technology and decides to live like they did in the 1960s. Inspired by a list found in her grandmother’s diary from 1962, Mallory decides to make her life simpler. But of course, little goes according to plan, and going vintage makes everything more complicated.
This book was a quick, adorable read. At first, I thought it was a little too simple: Mallory thinks she can fix all things by returning to a “simpler” decade. But she forgets to factor in things like using the internet for research at school, and an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t understand what he did wrong. Going back to the 60s is supposed to be a quick-fix.
Which of course is absurd. The History major in me is screaming injustice. But as Mallory learns, teenagers in every decade had their share of problems, and we’re not just talking fashion.
What I really loved about this book were the side-characters. Mallory’s younger sister was my favorite, and it’s so refreshing to read about a modern pair of sisters who are best friends. Mallory’s parents were also pretty great in the parents-are-always-crazy kind of way. And of course, the drama/romance with the ex-boyfriend’s cousin, Oliver (what a great name!), was adorable.
In the end, while the premise may seem kind of simple, the book definitely redeemed itself with a great cast of characters and much deeper meaning.
--------------------------
About Emily: Emily Ritter found her dream job working in the marketing department of a children's publisher. When she's not reading books, she's watching sports and eating ice cream. She blogs about YA books at yay-books.blogspot.com and general NFL shenanigans at aeryssports.com/aerys-offsides. One time she married a trophy!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
April Top Five
April was definitely one of those months where I had so much to read and I don't feel like I accomplished very much. But here are my top three from this month, and numbers four and five are Jackie's top reads!
1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
I still haven't really sorted out my feelings from this book and I kind of think I'm unhappy with it in general. I mean, I was never able to pick it up without sobbing. But still, there's something in a book that has the power to rip out your soul that makes it pretty fabulous.
2. Unraveling and Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris
Yeah, I'm including both of these as one here, but I read them so close together and they're both incredible. I'm a little mad at myself for waiting so long to read Unraveling, but at the same time it was awesome to be able to jump right into Unbreakable. I'll have reviews for these up this week!
3. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
This book was so much fun and it was a different take on the paranormal world. Plus, its impossible not to love a character like Dusty who's sarcastic, witty, and endearing. Read my full review HERE.
4. Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters
Jackie says: This was a great conclusion to the Maggie and Clay love story that I fell desperately for in Find You in the Dark. Getting inside Clay's head was amazing. We all wanted to know what his craziness felt like. Check out my review HERE!
5. The Program by Suzanne Young
Jackie says: This book surprised me in so many good ways. I just loved the originality of the story, and the detail and mystery that made it come alive are STILL bouncing around in my head. Book 2 yet? Please!? Read my full review HERE.
What were your top reads this month?
Top Ten Tuesday: Buzzwords
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up a Book
------Kingdom------
Usually I see kingdom and it means royalty, fantasy, and hopefully an awesome map.
------Travel------
Any book that takes me to another country, I'm so in. I'm thinking Anna and the French Kiss,
Wanderlove, and Just One Day. All are great favorites of mine.
Any book that takes me to another country, I'm so in. I'm thinking Anna and the French Kiss,
Wanderlove, and Just One Day. All are great favorites of mine.
------Werewolves------
My paranormal weakness. I'm a wolf girl. All the way.
My paranormal weakness. I'm a wolf girl. All the way.
------Alternate Universe------
This is something I'm definitely digging lately.
------Troubled/Mysterious/Dark (Boy)------
Can't even help it. I love a good bad boy.
------Country/Small Town------
This is my favorite setting because it's where I grew up.
------Retelling------
I love to see stories I love told in new ways. Tiger Lily and For Darkness Shows the Stars are particularly amazing.
---------------------------------------
And three words that will keep me from picking up a book:
------Addiction------
Not even going to lie, tough subjects aren't really my thing.
------Afterlife------
I have to hear a lot of awesome things about a book that takes place in the afterlife for me to pick it up.
------Mystery------
Ok, this one is a little broad, but I'm just not a fan of whodunnits.
This is something I'm definitely digging lately.
------Troubled/Mysterious/Dark (Boy)------
Can't even help it. I love a good bad boy.
------Country/Small Town------
This is my favorite setting because it's where I grew up.
------Retelling------
I love to see stories I love told in new ways. Tiger Lily and For Darkness Shows the Stars are particularly amazing.
---------------------------------------
And three words that will keep me from picking up a book:
------Addiction------
Not even going to lie, tough subjects aren't really my thing.
------Afterlife------
I have to hear a lot of awesome things about a book that takes place in the afterlife for me to pick it up.
------Mystery------
Ok, this one is a little broad, but I'm just not a fan of whodunnits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Friday, May 10, 2013
Losing It: Bonus Scene One
The first bonus scene from Garrick's POV! YES! Keep pre-ordering Faking It so we can get those other three scenes!
-------------------------------
Pre-order Faking It!
Pre-order Faking It! We definitely want those scenes from Garrick's POV!! And if you haven't read Losing It, get on that!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey
::Review by Jackie Lindert::
Synopsis: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
I have to admit, this was the first book I've read about aliens. I hadn't gone out of my way to avoid the subject, but I certainly wasn't searching for a good "alien" book. Having said that, I don't know if I will search for another one because this book set the bar! It was incredible and mind-blowingly real.
From the very beginning, The 5th Wave freaked me out (in a good way!). The details the author comes up with make the possibility of alien invasion not only seem real, but it's so creative. I've seen movies with alien invasions, but I've never thought of the tactics they use in such freaky ways. I kind of want to call everyone I know and come up with a just-in-case-of-an-alien-apocalypse plan.
You never know what's coming in The 5th Wave. Just when you are convinced to trust no one and be skeptical of everything, the book STILL manages to throw a twist or two at you; each which blew my mind.
I love getting the different points of view in this book. At first it threw me for a loop, but it is done so well that I can't picture it any other way. Yancey is a genius. His characters are also kick ass. What I love about Cassie, the main character, is that she starts out as just any shy, high school girl, but toughens up and becomes so brave. Guys and girls are equal in this book. They save each other. There are no damsels in distress left because they have been wiped out. Only the strong are left, and they are teetering on the line between crazy and courageous.
Another great part about the book is that all the characters start to really question what it is to be human. It's pretty trippy reading their thoughts. Like I've said repeatedly, it seems so real. The humanity question goes beyond a philosophical thought...they are literally unsure if they can hold on to what makes them compassionate human beings while trying to stay alive.
The last thing I'll say about The 5th Wave is that the humor and sarcasm balances out a lot of the morbid parts. It keeps you somewhat sane and grounded during your trip through a chilling world, and it's all perfectly timed. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Seriously though, even if you've never thought about reading a book with aliens, read this book. It will blow your mind.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
I have to admit, this was the first book I've read about aliens. I hadn't gone out of my way to avoid the subject, but I certainly wasn't searching for a good "alien" book. Having said that, I don't know if I will search for another one because this book set the bar! It was incredible and mind-blowingly real.
From the very beginning, The 5th Wave freaked me out (in a good way!). The details the author comes up with make the possibility of alien invasion not only seem real, but it's so creative. I've seen movies with alien invasions, but I've never thought of the tactics they use in such freaky ways. I kind of want to call everyone I know and come up with a just-in-case-of-an-alien-apocalypse plan.
You never know what's coming in The 5th Wave. Just when you are convinced to trust no one and be skeptical of everything, the book STILL manages to throw a twist or two at you; each which blew my mind.
I love getting the different points of view in this book. At first it threw me for a loop, but it is done so well that I can't picture it any other way. Yancey is a genius. His characters are also kick ass. What I love about Cassie, the main character, is that she starts out as just any shy, high school girl, but toughens up and becomes so brave. Guys and girls are equal in this book. They save each other. There are no damsels in distress left because they have been wiped out. Only the strong are left, and they are teetering on the line between crazy and courageous.
Another great part about the book is that all the characters start to really question what it is to be human. It's pretty trippy reading their thoughts. Like I've said repeatedly, it seems so real. The humanity question goes beyond a philosophical thought...they are literally unsure if they can hold on to what makes them compassionate human beings while trying to stay alive.
The last thing I'll say about The 5th Wave is that the humor and sarcasm balances out a lot of the morbid parts. It keeps you somewhat sane and grounded during your trip through a chilling world, and it's all perfectly timed. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Seriously though, even if you've never thought about reading a book with aliens, read this book. It will blow your mind.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Blog Tour + Giveaway: Because of You by TE Sivec
--------------------------------------------------------
Release Date: April 29, 2013Purchase Links: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: Goodreads
About Because of You: Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way. He's struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly. When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow, he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice does he have?
Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she's never felt more alone in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter's life and will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using herdaughter to get there. When an overlyamorous fan's letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside their differences before the letters become a reality and someone's life is in jeopardy.
Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good.
Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.
--------------------------------------------------------
The plot of the book involves a stalker and the betrayal of someone who Layla completely trusts. The whole situation spirals out of control and the twists keep coming. I always had suspicions about what would happen next, but I could never really be sure. Sometimes it was easy to predict and other times it was a complete shock.
If you're a reader of mystery and romance, I think you'll definitely enjoy this book. Just be aware that it is for mature readers.
--------------------------------------------------------
About T.E. Sivec: This is the pen name of Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she writes romantic suspence novels. T.E. Sivec lives in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a full-time writer.
--------------------------------------------------------
Giveaway
Up for grabs is a swag pack, which will include a signed paperback copy of Because of You as well as a tote bag and lots of other fun goodies!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Going Vintage - Lindsey Leavitt (Guest Review)
I'm so excited to have the amazing Emily from (YA)Y! Books on the blog today sharing her thoughts on Going Vintage!
Synopsis: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.
When Mallory’s boyfriend cheats on her online, she swears off technology and decides to live like they did in the 1960s. Inspired by a list found in her grandmother’s diary from 1962, Mallory decides to make her life simpler. But of course, little goes according to plan, and going vintage makes everything more complicated.
About Emily: Emily Ritter found her dream job working in the marketing department of a children's publisher. When she's not reading books, she's watching sports and eating ice cream. She blogs about YA books at yay-books.blogspot.com and general NFL shenanigans at aeryssports.com/aerys-offsides. One time she married a trophy!
Synopsis: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.
When Mallory’s boyfriend cheats on her online, she swears off technology and decides to live like they did in the 1960s. Inspired by a list found in her grandmother’s diary from 1962, Mallory decides to make her life simpler. But of course, little goes according to plan, and going vintage makes everything more complicated.
This book was a quick, adorable read. At first, I thought it was a little too simple: Mallory thinks she can fix all things by returning to a “simpler” decade. But she forgets to factor in things like using the internet for research at school, and an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t understand what he did wrong. Going back to the 60s is supposed to be a quick-fix.
Which of course is absurd. The History major in me is screaming injustice. But as Mallory learns, teenagers in every decade had their share of problems, and we’re not just talking fashion.
What I really loved about this book were the side-characters. Mallory’s younger sister was my favorite, and it’s so refreshing to read about a modern pair of sisters who are best friends. Mallory’s parents were also pretty great in the parents-are-always-crazy kind of way. And of course, the drama/romance with the ex-boyfriend’s cousin, Oliver (what a great name!), was adorable.
In the end, while the premise may seem kind of simple, the book definitely redeemed itself with a great cast of characters and much deeper meaning.
--------------------------
About Emily: Emily Ritter found her dream job working in the marketing department of a children's publisher. When she's not reading books, she's watching sports and eating ice cream. She blogs about YA books at yay-books.blogspot.com and general NFL shenanigans at aeryssports.com/aerys-offsides. One time she married a trophy!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
April Top Five
April was definitely one of those months where I had so much to read and I don't feel like I accomplished very much. But here are my top three from this month, and numbers four and five are Jackie's top reads!
1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
I still haven't really sorted out my feelings from this book and I kind of think I'm unhappy with it in general. I mean, I was never able to pick it up without sobbing. But still, there's something in a book that has the power to rip out your soul that makes it pretty fabulous.
2. Unraveling and Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris
Yeah, I'm including both of these as one here, but I read them so close together and they're both incredible. I'm a little mad at myself for waiting so long to read Unraveling, but at the same time it was awesome to be able to jump right into Unbreakable. I'll have reviews for these up this week!
3. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
This book was so much fun and it was a different take on the paranormal world. Plus, its impossible not to love a character like Dusty who's sarcastic, witty, and endearing. Read my full review HERE.
4. Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters
Jackie says: This was a great conclusion to the Maggie and Clay love story that I fell desperately for in Find You in the Dark. Getting inside Clay's head was amazing. We all wanted to know what his craziness felt like. Check out my review HERE!
5. The Program by Suzanne Young
Jackie says: This book surprised me in so many good ways. I just loved the originality of the story, and the detail and mystery that made it come alive are STILL bouncing around in my head. Book 2 yet? Please!? Read my full review HERE.
What were your top reads this month?
Top Ten Tuesday: Buzzwords
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up a Book
------Kingdom------
Usually I see kingdom and it means royalty, fantasy, and hopefully an awesome map.
------Travel------
Any book that takes me to another country, I'm so in. I'm thinking Anna and the French Kiss,
Wanderlove, and Just One Day. All are great favorites of mine.
Any book that takes me to another country, I'm so in. I'm thinking Anna and the French Kiss,
Wanderlove, and Just One Day. All are great favorites of mine.
------Werewolves------
My paranormal weakness. I'm a wolf girl. All the way.
My paranormal weakness. I'm a wolf girl. All the way.
------Alternate Universe------
This is something I'm definitely digging lately.
------Troubled/Mysterious/Dark (Boy)------
Can't even help it. I love a good bad boy.
------Country/Small Town------
This is my favorite setting because it's where I grew up.
------Retelling------
I love to see stories I love told in new ways. Tiger Lily and For Darkness Shows the Stars are particularly amazing.
---------------------------------------
And three words that will keep me from picking up a book:
------Addiction------
Not even going to lie, tough subjects aren't really my thing.
------Afterlife------
I have to hear a lot of awesome things about a book that takes place in the afterlife for me to pick it up.
------Mystery------
Ok, this one is a little broad, but I'm just not a fan of whodunnits.
This is something I'm definitely digging lately.
------Troubled/Mysterious/Dark (Boy)------
Can't even help it. I love a good bad boy.
------Country/Small Town------
This is my favorite setting because it's where I grew up.
------Retelling------
I love to see stories I love told in new ways. Tiger Lily and For Darkness Shows the Stars are particularly amazing.
---------------------------------------
And three words that will keep me from picking up a book:
------Addiction------
Not even going to lie, tough subjects aren't really my thing.
------Afterlife------
I have to hear a lot of awesome things about a book that takes place in the afterlife for me to pick it up.
------Mystery------
Ok, this one is a little broad, but I'm just not a fan of whodunnits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)