Books I Loved, But Did Not Review

Recently, I managed to read some books which I really liked but couldn't review. Since they were novels I enjoyed alot, I thought it'd be good to share a few of them with you, just in case you were looking for some new books to read!

1. Anna Dressed In Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake

 
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

This book might sound gory and creepy-and it is! But don't let that put you off, because I'm a scaredy-cat myself and I still managed to enjoy Anna Dressed In Blood. I was a bit hesitant when I saw that it was written from a male's POV, but Cas was really a likeable and decent protagonist. If you're looking for something unique, pick up this book ASAP-do not get scared off by the cover!

2. All These Things I've Done (Birthright, #1) by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I've Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and the fantastic.

All These Things I've Done is definitely one of my favourite dystopian novels so far, and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel. Anya was a tough heroine who impressed me with her loyalty and grit! I like how it doesn't show a drastically different society that is difficult to imagine, but rather, a believable and realistic future world. I can't think of life without chocolate, but one can actually foresee crime rates rising.

3. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention
Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

When you first read the blurb, Shut Out might seem overly-centered on sex. But fortunately, it turned out to be alot sweeter and alot less preachy that I'd imagined! I really, really enjoyed the romance between Lissa and Cash, who has to be the most perfect guy ever (sigh...) Overall, I think I liked this much more than The DUFF, Kody Keplinger's debut novel, and I'm waiting excitedly for what she'll bring to us in future.

4. Supernaturally (Paranormalcy, #2) by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees. But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.


I LOVED Paranormalcy, so I was already anticipating Supernaturally like crazy! It wasn't as good as the first book, but then again, few sequels are. I like how the story didn't feel like a "filler", which is what many second-books-in-a-trilogy can sometimes come across as. If you haven't read Paranormalcy, you need to start now :) The third book in the series already has a gorgeous cover!

Other notable mentions:

5. Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
6. Hunting Lila (Lila, #1) by Sarah Alderson (I actually read this a long time ago. Loved it!)

In My Mailbox #2

Won

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Pure Red by Danielle Joseph

Borrowed (Library)

        

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K Kelly Martin

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

[Review] Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark

Author: Leigh Fallon

Publisher: Harper Teen (October 4th, 2011)

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

You guys might already know from a previous meme that if I don't find a book to my liking, chances are I won't make myself finish it. To me, it just saves alot of time and unnecessary frustration. Plus if a story is suitable for your taste, you probably shouldn't even have to think about making The Decision (whether to stop or not). I know this might not be very fair to the author because every story deserves a chance, but that's just my habit and I can't help it.

Yet with Carrier of the Mark, it was a book I had requested for after winning a giveaway held over at The Traveling Reader (a super-responsible and friendly blogger who really thinks of everything <3). So even when I felt like stopping the book midway, I couldn't do it because it'd feel like a waste. The book itself wasn't very long anyway, so it's probably a good choice if you're looking for a quick read!

Firstly, the writing. I'm neither an expert on literature or a writer myself, but the author's style just didn't appeal to me at all. The prose felt very forced and direct...like everything was spelt clearly and you just had to take it at face value, you know? I know a book doesn't need to have flowery language or extra-complicated sentences in order to be likeable, and too much thinking can get tiring as well. But because the writing was so plain and one-dimensional, I felt like I wasn't involved in the story, but rather an outsider flipping through the pages and knowing A said this, B replied, C happened, then D followed. The dialogue between characters was so stiff I found myself wondering if people really did have conversations like this in real life.

Also, I'm not a fan of exclamation marks in dialogue.

Secondly, the romance was really, really fast! I know this is supposed to be a romance novel and they were helplessly drawn to each other, but that also meant I couldn't understand WHY Adam (the love interest) loved Megan so much. I mean, he can't think of anything but her and even sends a crow and his sister to stalk her-when they hadn't even exchanged more than a few words! Megan thinks it's sweet and protective of Adam, but to me, it's just plain creepy. I do not need a crow spying on me in the shower, and that is exactly what happens in the book. Everything happened so fast, they'd barely met and suddenly he was confessing his undying love to her? The author kind of skimmed over the development of the relationship, so we hardly get an insight as to how they got to know each other. Instead, we suddenly see both of them kissing and Megan believing Adam was The One after a few weeks. The quickness of their whirlwind romance was a little startling, making them seem like two hormone-crazed teenagers rushing into love rather than sensible young adults starting a new relationship. Other readers might appreciate this as a realistic portrayal of young love, but personally I thought it went way too intense, way too fast.

Perhaps I'm being too cynical here, and who knows, maybe someone else might find Adam more swoon-worthy than stalkerish. Who doesn't love a hot stud in a book? I guess sometimes hotness becomes such a cliche, it actually makes the romance seem superficial and unbelievable instead of enhancing it.

Thirdly, I was really uncomfortable with how this book closely resembled another series starting with a T and ending with a T. (In case you haven't guessed, this series involves one girl who moves to Forks, and a family of vegetarian vampires with supernatural abilities.) I couldn't help noticing the likeliness despite my attempts to avoid making any comparisons between both books. YA books always tend to overlap, whether is it in plot or character-wise, because there's bound to be some similarities when you're dealing with the same issues. Usually, I don't find it a huge problem...but for Carrier of the Mark, the signs were so obvious it was pretty hard to miss. Although the book did have some original ideas that should be expanded on, I'd like to see more originality in both its plot and characters.

It was hard to relate to Megan emotionally, I guess. The whole "I'm dangerous and I should totally stay away from you but I have the hots for you so I'll just kiss you and hope it all works out" thing? It gets old. Fast. If you know someone isn't good for you, why play with fire? Megan's lovesick behaviour at the start seemed a little silly to me, especially when Adam was obviously staying away from her, FOR HER OWN GOOD. When you don't feel a connection with the MC, that's when things go downhill.

You can probably tell from my little tirade that I couldn't bring myself to truly like this novel (oh well). I would suggest that you check it out from the library first if you're interested, but for a more comprehensive point of view, you might like to check out more reviews over at its Goodreads page.

Follow Friday #5 and Book Blogger Hop #3

Q: What superhero is your alter-ego?

Superman! I'm not a guy, but I've got muscles. Okay I'm kidding haha, I think I'd like to have him as my alter-ego because he's your typical geek at first glance, but when he throws on his costume, he's the hero who saves everyone from distress! It's like, "Laugh at me all you want, I'm the one secretly kicking ass and saving your butt!"

Q: What is your favourite type of candy?

I have an incurable sweet tooth, so asking me about my favourite candy is like asking me about my favourite family member. But thankfully, the former is still easier to answer than the latter LOL. Do chocolates count as candy? If yes...Hershey's all the way, for no reason other than because I like it best!

[Review] Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Title: Past Perfect

Author: Leila Sales

Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 4th, 2011)

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.
Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

I'd previously read and liked Leila Sales' first book, Mostly Good Girls, so when I learnt of Past Perfect, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! And it certainly didn't disappoint, which makes me look forward to more from this author.

The main character, Chelsea, was snarky, sarcastic, and had a deadpan humor which made me laugh a whole lot. But underneath all the hilarious comments, I thought she was also a relatively down-to-earth and average protagonist whom you can easily relate to. Having a likeable MC made it easy to feel emotionally connected to the story as it progressed-even her whining was more funny than annoying!

However, every MC has her faults and Chelsea is no exception. I did feel kind of annoyed when she kept hankering after Ezra (what kind of name is that, anyway!?) even though they'd already broken up and he didn't show any interest in getting back with her. It felt as if she was overly obsessed with him to the point that he was affecting her mood all the time. To be fair, it wouldn't be very teenager-ish if Chelsea was able to handle Ezra's presence diplomatically and get over it immediately, so it wasn't really a huge problem that ruined the story or anything. I also did try to keep in mind that this was actually a big part of the story's plot (having to deal with an ex 24/7) and served as a way to show Chelsea's character growth. That being said, I was glad to see her maturing and becoming an independent person without Ezra by the end of the book.

Chelsea's parents were also really endearing. I mean, she did complain about her dad every now and then (who doesn't?) but she never went off on an emo "Oh my family sucks I hate my parents they don't understand me at all" tirade. You could see the strong relationship they had as family, and it was incredibly reassuring. I was beginning to think that a shattered, dysfunctional family was a must for YA protagonists, but this certainly wasn't true in Past Perfect. Well, except for the fact that they were acting as silversmiths in a historical village. I'm not sure if you'd consider that dysfunctional.

Speaking of the historical village, I really liked the premise of the story. Past Perfect is set in Essex, a historical colonial village cum tourist destination, which meant it strayed away from your usual high school setting. The writer effortlessly weaved history into the story and there were some interesting golden nuggets about time and culture scattered throughout the book!

There was also this "Civil War" between Chelsea's colonial village and a neighboring rival village set in another time era; it was kind of unreal that teenagers would take it so seriously, but the "attacks" on each other were so silly it added comedic effect. It also provided some conflict for Chelsea's budding romance with Dan, a boy from the other side. I was afraid that the writer would twist the story such that they became starcrossed lovers or something, but thank goodness she didn't! Dan wasn't exactly swoonworthy material, but he's somewhat like the nice, sweet, boy-next-door you can't help but warm to. They had some really adorable and witty banter that made me root for them all the way, even during a time when I thought maybe they were done for good.

Overall, Past Perfect was a light-hearted and entertaining novel that I enjoyed immensely. Don't miss this one if you're looking for a cute and enjoyable read!

Waiting on Wednesday: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

 

 Title: Incarnate (Incarnate #1)

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Harper Collins (January 31st 2012)

 

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

The reason why I got curious about this book was really because of its cover. Although some people might find it startling and maybe a tad creepy, it just called out to me at first glance! But what truly caught my attention was the plot, because how many YA books actually deal with souls AND reincarnations? (Well, not counting starcrossed lovers and soulmates. You know how skeptical I am about those) The whole premise sounds fantastic, plus the romance sounds ultra promising too! ;) 2012 releases seem so far off in the future, but thank goodness this one's out in January, which isn't as distant as it seems.

Update! (And an apology)

Hello people!!

Firstly, I’d like to apologise to everyone for being totally MIA recently. Has it really been a MONTH since I last updated this blog?! If there’s still anyone who follows my blog, not just as a follower on Google Friend Connect but as a loyal reader-I’m extremely sorry for being so irregular in blogging this month. I bet you thought I vanished from the surface of the Earth or something, and for that I feel insanely guilty!

When I started blogging, I knew it was going to take a lot of work and that’s why I put in tons of effort in growing my blog. It was work that I enjoyed immensely at the start, when it was the holidays and I had plenty of time to spare. But once school started, I was having difficulty with even finishing the books on my hands, let alone write thorough reviews about them. And whenever I did have time to do a review, my writing just sounded so weird and forced and cringe-worthy I couldn’t bear to post it. Yeah, I’m totally anal about stuff like this; if it’s not something I would want to read myself, I’d never show it to you! Eventually, I guess it just became easier to stop trying. I am so ashamed of myself right now.

But the thing is, I still LOVE reading to bits. It’s still my favourite past-time and I have so many books to start on. Plus, I’ll never stop having opinions of the novels I read :P That’s why I have no intentions of completely giving up blogging, even if it’s only to satisfy my own selfish need to share some burning thoughts and feelings. Or to have fun, especially when I get some really funny and thoughtful comments from you guys!

But first, I’ll have to get over final-year examinations in October (which reminds me, I have so much revision left untouched LOL) and work a bit more on my writing skills.  And get more inspiration and motivation in the meantime, probably? (:

Thank you also to authors who have asked me to review your book(s) even though I haven’t updated regularly. I appreciate the consideration and will always get back to you!

Once again, I’m really sorry for the long absence, especially to those who do/did follow my blog consistently. I’ll do my best, so please be patient with me!

[Review] My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Title: My Life Undecided

Author: Jessica Brody

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux (June 7th, 2011)

My Life Undecided was a really cute, funny and relatable story which will have you laughing and squealing along with Brooklyn throughout her decision-making journey!

After reading The Karma Club, also by this author, I was looking forward to reading more from her because her books seemed to have very unique concepts. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed with My Life Undecided at all! Everyone has had difficulties making decisions in life, and most of us can relate to having made some really bad choices. As teenagers, decision-making is even harder because we feel like one wrong move will totally destroy our lives or something!

So why not ask an anonymous crowd of unbiased strangers to give their objective view? This is exactly what the protagonist, Brooklyn, has decided to do. After making some wrong choices, she ends up losing her parents’ trust, best friend, and social standing. This series of bad decisions leads Brooklyn to believe that she is incapable of wise judgement, and thus in a fit of inspiration, sets up a blog named “My Life Undecided”. Here, Brooklyn declares that every one of her decisions, whether tiny or huge, is now in the hands of the blogosphere-whatever option the virtual crowd votes for, she will follow. What started off as a desperate attempt to make the right decisions eventually develops into a life-changing experience for Brooklyn.

I loved the whole premise of this book! Blogging was weaved effortlessly into the story and I actually felt tempted for a moment to start a similar blog myself, LOL.  Brooklyn was someone I liked very much, simply because she reminded me a lot of my own inability to make decisions easily. Other than that, Brooklyn was also a funny, witty and snarky MC who started off as being overly-sarcastic and angst-ridden, but slowly evolved into a more mature and considerate person by the end of the book. It was enjoyable reading about how she had to follow whatever decision her blog voters chose even if she didn’t like it-the consequences were just hilarious!

What made this book even more endearing would be the romance. You have the popular, suave and charming guy on one hand, and on the other hand you have the underdog, who happens to be smart, responsible, kind, supportive and a debater (!!!) Although it was rather predictable who Brooklyn would choose in the end, I had fun reading about all the sweet moments and how she finally realises which guy is right for her. There was this heart-stopping scene in the bathroom when Brooklyn was playing Truth or Dare-let’s just say I nearly melted into a puddle reading that part, and it was by far my favourite in the book!

I loved the ending because it said a lot about Brooklyn’s character growth, and how the experience has shaped her as a person. It was adorable without being corny, meaningful without being preachy, and conclusive without being absolute. I’d recommend My Life Undecided to anyone looking for a sweet, light-hearted and comical read with a unique premise!

Giveaway at Missy's Reads & Reviews!

Missy is having an Epic 1000 Followers Giveaway over at her blog! There are six prize packs to be won and tons of extra entries you can do :)

For more information, click HERE!

[Review] Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Title: Luminous

Author: Dawn Metcalf

Publisher: Dutton Childrens Books (July 7th, 2011)

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

When I first heard of Luminous, I thought the plot stood out alot from your typical paranormal fare and immediately added it to my TBR list. The idea of shedding your skin to become part of the world around you sounded refreshing! I'm not sure about you, but personally I've had times when I wished I could become something else rather than plain old me, and what better way than to throw on a new skin of air or water or even flames like Consuela does? And who wouldn't want to have a pretty pearl-pink skeleton?!

I won't even try to summarise this book because, well, there were way too many things going on! I don't mean it with a negative connotation, and readers who appreciate complexity in a story will probably love Luminous to bits. One thing about this book would be that it keeps you on your toes guessing where the story was headed; there was no predictability at all and I constantly found myself wondering what was going to happen next! You also can't help but get swept up into the alternate universe of the Flow along with Consuela. Everything sounded really different from what we are used to here on Earth. In fact, everything in the world of Luminous is unique and allows your imagination to run freely, thanks to the very descriptive imagery and beautiful language. Many reviews of this book have stated how good Dawn Metcalf's writing was, and I must say they weren't exaggerating at all!

However, the complicated storyline also meant that I had difficulty trying to keep up with the plot. There were moments when I had to pause and backtrack because Luminous was pretty fast-paced and it was easy to miss out certain details if you weren't paying enough attention. By the time I finished half of Luminous, I was already feeling slightly lost with lots of questions in my head. The wonderful writing was probably what made me press on until I finished the book, though I was steadily getting more and more confused.

Characters wise, I thought the writer did a really good job in creating characters which YA readers may not be accustomed to. The other teens in the Flow had their own unique personalities and talents-I wish we had the opportunity to learn more about their individual stories and relationships with one another! Romance lovers will be glad to hear that there is a male character with a very cool name and ability, who has a pretty deep connection to Consuela. However, I personally couldn't get into the romance and it was mainly because of Consuela herself. She felt way too cardboard-like without much emotion, especially because the story was told in third-person narrative. Even towards the end, when Consuela supposedly felt more comfortable in her own skin, I still didn't feel like she had grown much from the beginning of the book. I couldn't connect much with her on an emotional level, which was really a pity!

Luminous had TONS of potential. It had great prose, interesting supporting characters, and I loved the concept of the Flow, but overall the story just kind of fell flat for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I wanted more out of Luminous! Still, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something more challenging, stimulating and different.

(P.S: Sorry for being MIA for so long! Life has been pretty busy thanks to school, and I was trying to catch up on my reading as well. Thanks for sticking with me :D)

[Review] Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Title: Sixteenth Summer

Author: Michelle Dalton

Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 3rd, 2011)

At first glance, Sixteenth Summer might seem like your typical, fluffy summer read, one that you can read while lying out in the sun somewhere. But personally, I felt it was more like a spring or autumn read-not just sweet and romantic, but also with a little more depth and melancholy than you might expect.

The tiny island with all its nature and beach scenery sounded so blissful to me! I’m just dying to step into the book and personally experience the whole island atmosphere. Will, who is from the city and used to walking in a crowd of strangers, was so awed by how Anna knew practically everyone she walked by on the streets-and he certainly isn’t the only one! I wish I could stroll along the city and make friendly talk with familiar faces everywhere. (Here, people would probably start staring at me suspiciously and wondering what I’ve got up my sleeves)

The beginning part of Will and Anna’s relationship was awkward, clumsy, embarrassing and so incredibly sweet. It’s always fun reading those books where both characters meet for the first time but manage to say the perfect things while looking cool and composed; somehow, everything goes smoothly like a fairy tale and the magical night even ends with a knee-weakening kiss. In that moment, you start dreamily fantasizing and thinking, hey, maybe this is going to happen to me too. That’s why I love romance novels so much, they give us rose-tinted stories where nothing seems to go wrong!

Yet in reality, that’s often not the case. Instead of projecting a put-together, confident image, most of us ordinary teenagers end up stammering in nervousness, blushing in shyness or fidgeting in silence. We trip over our own feet, we have colourful tongues from wrong candy choices, we have bad hair days and stains down the front of our shirts. Michelle Dalton managed to capture the real essence of first dates, first kisses, and first loves perfectly in the book. Will and Anna’s love story was simple and not at all extraordinary with sweeping lines or extravagant gestures, but it was also heart-warming and charming in its own right. I loved how they were able to transform small, mundane everyday-life matters into beautiful and treasured summer memories to keep for life.

After reading so many books involving things like the horrors of dystopian society, or world-endangering wars between paranormal creatures, Sixteenth Summer was like returning home to a familiar place of comfort. The novel reminded me that even in the world of creative fiction, normalcy can be equally engaging. The entire book was about how two simple, normal, uninteresting teenagers met, fell in love and spent the summer getting to know each other-it sounds kind of boring, but isn’t this exactly what normal people all over the world are experiencing? I thought the plot development was very realistic and natural, nothing felt forced or out of place. Although the storyline was relatively simple, I was charmed throughout and couldn’t take my eyes off the pages, which is a lot more than I can say for other books aiming for action-packed and suspenseful, but falling short disastrously.

The ending was heart-breaking and hopeful at the same time. Although I already had an inkling where the book was heading towards since the start, *highlight for minor spoiler* it was still kind of sad knowing there was a high possibility Will and Anna would never be together again. It would have been overkill if the author had thrown in a perfect, nicely wrapped-up conclusion, so I wouldn't ask for a totally happy ending, nor would I want a sequel because I think the book ended on a beautiful (if not slightly tragic) note. If you're looking for a coming-of-age story dealing with first love and growing up, Sixteenth Summer is for you!

[Review] Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Title: Hourglass (Hourglass #1)

Author: Myra McEntire

Publisher: Egmont USA (June 14, 2011)

I was anticipating this book so much that I feared it wouldn't live up to my expectations. But guess what? Hourglass was just plain awesome! I was worrying for nothing! This book was every bit as good as I'd imagined and maybe even more. I felt like I was racing through time with the characters and many of the plot twists had me going, Whoa. Never saw that coming. It was impressive how Ms Mcentire managed to drop all the big surprises and secrets at just the right moments-everything just fit perfectly!

Em was a witty, sarcastic, and tough heroine who wasn't afraid to show it when she was angry, even if she was drooling over Michael (this, I found perfectly understandable). When Michael was babying her around, thinking she couldn't cope with all the secretive stuff about the Hourglass society, she stood up and demanded to know the truth because it involved her. I was like, This is the attitude I want, girl! Give it to him! I cannot tolerate wishy-washy protagonists who whine all the time about being kept in the dark, while refusing to take action and find out what was going on. This, I'm happy to say, is exactly what Em was not.

But beneath all her snarky comments and strong front, Em also had a vulnerable, soft side. This aspect of her personality emerged during her interactions with Thomas, her brother, and his wife, Dru. Her brand of inner fangirling was just hilarious! I nearly fell out of my chair giggling whenever she said something embarrassing in front of Michael and got all awkward afterward.

The romantic tension between Em and Michael was just SIZZLING. I half-expected them to start making out there and then on their first meeting, but of course, that didn't happen! I have no idea how many sparks flew before they finally kissed, but when they did, you can practically see fireworks everywhere. God, I sound like so corny and cheesy now, but the chemistry between this power couple was really one of the key reasons that made Hourglass exceptional.

Uh, did you think I would actually miss out Kaleb? No way, the way he was described made him sound so hunky! If you like the authentic, tough, devilishly charming bad boy type with a soft heart, you'll probably fall head over heels in love with Kaleb. He's definitely not the pretentious "I'm-not-good-for-you" kind of guy! However, as much as I found Kaleb drool-worthy, I also felt that he was introduced too late into the story to really make a HUGE impact. It was a little unrealistic that he fell so deeply for Em just after a couple of meetings, when he had been a notorious heart-breaker the first time they met. I mean, Em IS lovable, but to instantly reform a serious playboy is a pretty difficult feat to achieve within a few days.

Anyway, I love Lily. Alot. She was extremely comical whenever Michael was around and I would love to have a best friend like her! Readers can expect a little twist that involves Lily and hidden abilities. I don't feel ashamed for spoiling you because there's some pretty obvious foreshadowing which made the revelation less shocking and more predictable! I'm totally shipping Lily and Kaleb together. Pretty please?!

Word play was used alot, which really lightened the slightly-heavy and serious atmosphere of the story! I particularly liked this example:

"Are you ready to get back?" he asked. I didn't raise my eyes, but I could hear the amusement in his voice. "Or do you have some time today?"

"I'm all yours." I slipped out before I could stop it. "Er...I mean, I think I'm going to be in trouble either way, since I spent the night with you...here, I mean, spent the night here." I stopped talking and sighed deeply. "I have time."

The ending of Hourglass was also really well done. You know those books ending with killer cliffhangers to pave the way for a sequel? I always end up tearing my hair out in pure frustration, because more often than not, I would have to endure another year of agony before I get to see how the story will be unfolding! But thank Heavens, Hourglass was concluded in a way that made me feel satisfied, but also super excited and hyped up for the next book.

This is a unique and promising novel that puts a different spin to time travel and science fic, a topic which I previously assumed was utterly dry and boring. The story was so engaging I found myself completely absorbed, such that I didn't even notice the clock ticking away and finished it in one setting. I would recommend this one to anyone up for something different with a distinctive voice.

Two favourite quotes:

•  Michael to Em: "You look like a miniature burglar."
•  My ass was grass, and big brother was the lawn mower.

[Review] Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Title: Lipstick Apology

Author: Jennifer Jabaley

Publisher: Razorbill (August 6th, 2009)

Lipstick Apology might just be a high school girl’s story about fitting in a new school, making new friends while keeping the old, and navigating the tricky waters of romance. Except it isn’t, because Emily’s parents recently died in a plane accident and her mother’s cryptic last words, scrawled in coral lipstick, were broadcast on television: Emily please forgive me.

Emily was a nice and sweet main character, other than the few times when she had emotional outbursts and totally blew up. I would say she’s a pretty good role model for readers, because she not only tries to protect her friends, but also respects her own body. Even when she was spellbound by Owen, who is devastatingly good-looking and a popular member of the swim team, Emily firmly kept things PG and resisted the temptation, which was pretty impressive! 


Georgia, Emily’s BFF from home, and Lindsey, her new friend in New York, both turned out to be really good friends who were always there for Emily when she needed them. While I half-expected Lindsey to suddenly show a hidden bitchy side or something, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Lindsey remained kind, supportive and non-judgmental throughout the entire course of the story.

And then we get to the supposed love triangle. Owen and Anthony are as different as day and night, because as much as Owen is the suave charmer every girl in school adores, Anthony is somewhat of an oddball (a cute one!) who prefers lunching in the library. But Emily strikes up an unlikely friendship with him as they became lab partners and worked together on a Chemistry project; turns out that Anthony’s not just a pro at baking thanks to working at his mom’s bakery, he’s also good at Science! He is also amazingly tolerant, even when Emily was screaming at him,  and doesn’t care what other people think about him. It was rather easy as a reader to tell who would be a better match for Emily and I got frustrated that she was taking so long to realise it, but the journey was worth it in the end.

Two other characters who deserve a special mention would be Emily’s aunt, Jolie, and Jolie’s best friend Trent. Although Emily called them “superficial” at the start, I felt that they had hidden depths and truly cared for Emily. In a way, the book was also Jolie’s journey of maturing and learning what she really needed in love. I wish I had a celebrity make-up artist for an aunt who could drastically change my looks and had a limitless credit card budget, but that doesn't seem to be happening soon, unfortunately. Trent, a celebrity hairstylist, added a ton of humor to the book with his comedic lines and drama behaviour. He might be a bit cliché as the gay (?) best friend, but I liked him anyway and I think most readers will feel the same! 

I did have a couple of issues with the book, as much as I enjoyed it. I felt sorry for Emily for losing her parents, but honestly speaking, I was unable to connect with her emotionally throughout the book. Perhaps it was because we never got to know her parents well enough to really feel her grief and the extent of her loss. When I found out the real reason for Emily's mother's apology, I was just like, “Oh, man, that must have sucked." And that was the full extent of sympathy I felt for Emily! Also, while I do know that Lipstick Apology is focused on Emily’s new life in New York with her aunt and how she copes with her mother’s last message, I was hoping to see more emotions from a teenaged girl who just lost TWO loving parents, and not just her mother. To me, Emily’s father played an overly-small role in the book and it would have been better if readers had a deeper insight into this father-daughter relationship.

Whenever I read a book involving deceased family members, I want it to really invoke strong sentiments within me, because I feel that death isn't some touch-and-go topic that we can take lightly or dismiss easily. Lipstick Apology did disappoint me slightly in this aspect, but I willingly overlooked this on account of the fact that maybe the writer wanted to focus on how Emily was moving on with her new life. 

On the whole, this novel was engaging and had everything you could possibly want in a contemporary YA story. It has plenty of romance and a satisfying ending as well (whew!). I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on Ms Jabaley's second novel, Crush Control, which was published on June 9th this year (:

Follow Friday #4

Q: Let's step away from besties...What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished? 

To be honest, I have never had such an experience before! I mean, sure, I've read books which didn't quite appeal to my tastes. It is my personal opinion that no matter how deep your love for reading might be, it's probably inevitable to stumble upon at least one book that fails to impress. But for myself, I'm a very picky reader. If I feel nothing for a particular novel, chances are I don't force myself to carry on reading it! So there's no "worst book" I actually finished, just books I stopped reading halfway because they captured my attention but didn't manage to keep it.

[Review] The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Title:  The Lipstick Laws

Author: Amy Holder

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 17, 2011)

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

I really enjoyed The Lipstick Laws; it was such a cute, fun and hilarious story! The main character, April Bowers, was a very real narrator with insecurities every teenaged girl on earth would know about, which made her extremely relatable. Her awkwardness around the guy she liked was endearing and some of the things she said made me laugh out loud! While it was disappointing that April allowed herself to be bullied around by Britney, who was seriously bitchy and too mean to be true, I also felt sympathetic because her situation was understandable. Who wouldn’t want a shot at popularity and friendship with the It Girl, especially if you’re a loner nobody really noticed?

The friendship April found with the Lipstick Lawbreakers was really sweet and I felt like I was there with them, having fun while plotting to bring down their nemesis. Their revenge plan was pure genius! Although we do get a glimpse into why Britney turned out to be the nasty queen of mean she is, I didn’t feel sorry for Britney at all. She deserved a taste of her own medicine and I was rooting for the Lipstick Lawbreakers all the way. I also admired the way April picked herself up after what Britney did to her and how Haley continued being a supportive BFF to April although she had moved overseas.

What about the romance? I was extremely amused at how April had such vivid descriptions about Matt Brentwood, the new boy whom she immediately develops a huge crush on. She not only nicknames him as Hottie Body Brentwood, but also dreams about him all the time; I would usually get annoyed at such protagonists but April does it in a non-irritating way that somehow reminded me of the times when I was crushing (badly) on someone. That being said, Matt wasn’t very appealing as a love interest. He just seemed like a normal teenage boy who was always falling for Britney’s feminine wiles and I didn’t think he was interested in April at all until the end of the book. Delvin, on the other hand, sounds like the kind of guy we girls would normally miss out, but is actually a decent chap who would be a sweet and attentive boyfriend. Sigh. His shyness and sincerity in liking April made me wish April would just stop dwelling on how hot Matt was and see Delvin for who he really was!

The ending was nicely wrapped up but left some space for future possibilities, particularly in the romance department. This suited me fine because to me, The Lipstick Laws was largely about true friendship and loving yourself. I finished it pretty quickly so if you’re up for a fast but pleasant and enjoyable read, grab this book today!

Waiting on Wednesday: Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Title: Tris & Izzie

Author: Mette Ivie Harrison

Publisher: Egmont USA (October 11, 2011)

A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

So for this week's Waiting on Wednesday, I decided to pick something that I thought was pretty unique.  This book seems like it will have the right balance of light-heartedness and seriousness, plus I'm guessing the romance will be awesome. I love it that it's going to be a fairytale retelling, we need to have more of such, seriously. Really can't wait for this one!

What about you guys? Any recommendations on upcoming books? Let me know!(:

[Review] A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin

Title: A & L Do Summer

Author: Jan Blazanin

Publisher: EgmontUSA (May 10, 2011)

In Iowa farm country, sixteen-year-old Aspen and her friend Laurel plan to get noticed the summer before their senior year and are unwittingly aided by pig triplets, a skunk, a chicken, bullies, a rookie policeman, and potential boyfriends.

A & L Do Summer was a hilarious and pleasant read that had me grinning from ear to ear throughout! It was generally light-hearted even when the main character, Aspen, and her BFF-cum-partner-in-crime Lindsey were constantly getting into trouble, or when they were getting bullied by three incorrigibly disgusting boys in their school (maybe it has to do with how Aspen describes those bullies). The story manages to turn some pretty severe situations, such as Aspen and Lindsey getting arrested, into funny events that made me laugh. Not to say it’s a joke to get arrested, of course. Ahem. But seriously, it’s not every day we get to read a teen book involving two teenaged girls, three barn pigs, one chicken, one skunk, and one bully named Ferret!

Aspen was witty, sarcastic, down-to-earth, and practical, but her bark is definitely worse than her bite. Despite how Aspen was forever using her satirical wit to rant about how her family (and life, in general) sucked, she was actually a big softie at heart. She was also incredibly loyal to Lindsey, who admittedly has a knack for coming up with adventurous, risky and ridiculous plans; Aspen earns brownie points from me just for being willing to go along with these wacky schemes! Lindsey makes a fantastic supporting character; instead of being shunted aside, she gets a lot of spotlight as well. I liked how the book focused not just on Aspen’s life, but what she AND Lindsey did together to create an unforgettable summer. The title is “A & L Do Summer”, after all! As a city girl in a farming town, Lindsey is scarily naïve (she believes, to the disgust and pity of country girl Aspen, sows and hens get to go on vacation after giving birth), extremely rash and does things before thinking carefully, but she is pure-hearted and a whole lot of fun!

The other characters in the book were really likeable and I enjoyed their interactions with Aspen. Some of them included the local police chief, Chief Sierra, whom I eventually grew to pity as he had the trouble-making Aspen-and-Lindsey duo around; Aspen’s cranky old neighbor who keeps a skunk for a pet and walks it in a baby stroller; Manny, Aspen’s playboy older brother and Lindsey’s crush who is always squabbling with Aspen but helps the duo out of trouble; and of course, Clay, Manny’s best friend whom Aspen starts crushing on. I loved Clay and Aspen’s budding romance, they were so freaking cute together! It was obvious to me right from the start that they liked each other, but it was so sweet in a first-love kind of way that both didn’t admit it until they grew closer.  The romantic content of A & L Do Summer was of course very clean and healthy, which I know doesn’t sound very passionate and all that, but I honestly thought the speed of its development was just right for the context of the story. Trust me, although I was mentally urging Clay to hurry up and kiss Aspen, I found myself smiling at each and every of their interactions.

So yeah, I think you can conclude from my gushing that I had a good time reading this book, so if you’re looking for a summer of fun, mischief and plans-gone-wrong, pick up this book right away!

[Review] Between Here And Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Between Here And Forever

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 24, 2011)

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.
Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.
She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.
Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

When I like a book by a certain writer, I would usually go scouting for all the other books written by her, because from experience, it's highly likely I'd end up enjoying them as well. I'm not sure if this makes sense, but to me, every author has a unique, distinctive writing style that remains constant throughout her works, thus if I like one of her books, the rest will probably be to my taste! I'm guessing I'm not alone in this-how many times have you heard someone go, "Oh it's Elizabeth Scott! I read one of her books and it was awesome, I've GOT to read this one when it's out!"

My liking for Elizabeth Scott's books is exactly like this. It sounds like I'm being unfairly biased towards her, but honestly speaking, I have never been disappointed by any of her books. One thing I like about her writing is how powerful and breathtaking it can be, and Between Here And Forever definitely delivers in this department. If you're looking for something simple and sweet, this isn't it, because this story left such a huge impact on me that I literally had to stop halfway and take a breath to steel my aching heart. (I'm totally serious!)

Abby's feelings towards her older sister, Tess, is full of complications, like how relationships between siblings always are. Family is a difficult topic to touch on because there's nothing about family that's completely black and white, more likely in between. The emotional struggle Abby went through in this story made me feel extremely sympathetic towards her, yet sometimes I wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her so she would stop belittling herself. Abby clearly thought she wasn't good enough for anything or anyone, all because Tess was the "perfect" one everyone loved, while she lived every day in her sister's shadow. Being sensitive by nature, Abby lost all confidence in herself and her own worth...some of the things going through her mind tugged at my heartstrings relentlessly and made me tear up. Even though Abby could be hard, closed up and bitchy, I felt like it was because of the armor she had built around her heart so she wouldn't get hurt again; something built up over time due to circumstances.

Although Tess was in a coma throughout the book, she had a huge role to play in the book. To me, Tess was the centre of attention when she was awake, and even in a coma, she still managed to make everything about her. While she was made out to be this flawless, nice and likeable girl who could do no wrong, I personally thought that was just from Abby's perspective. Tess just seemed like a crowd-pleaser who cared too much about what other people thought and too little about her own little sister's feelings. This was especially evident at the end of the book when the secrets started unfolding and the truth began emerging. The twists and revelations in this book totally took me surprise, especially the involvement of Claire, Tess' ex best friend, their neighbor, and now Abby's best friend.

Eli, the guy who eventually reaches Abby's heart, was so much more than just the male love interest who saves the day. He was the perfect example of how first impressions are never really accurate and that there are hidden depths to everyone, no matter who they may appear to be on the surface. I would say he is a rare male lead who is swoon-worthy (The descriptions. Oh gosh. Gorgeous guy alert!) but with flaws and problems that made him very realistic. Being imperfect made Eli perfect for Abby, and watching their relationship grow and blossom was immensely satisfying. There were some scenes which made me want to throw my arms around Eli and thank him over and over again for seeing what other people couldn't see.

Between Here And Forever was an incredibly heartbreaking, poignant and bittersweet story. Everything just seemed to fit together, including all its flawed, wonderfully relatable characters, and I could hardly take my eyes off Abby's journey of healing, believing and learning to love again.

"Is there anything you're afraid of?" Eli says.

 You, I think. I am terrified of you. Of how your kindness makes me like you in spite of myself. Of how you make me dream things I haven't dreamed in forever.

You, I think. But I don't say it.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

The moment I spotted the cover of this book, I was hopelessly hooked! Isn't it so incredibly gorgeous!? I know they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but sometimes in a huge bookstore with nothing but shelves and shelves of books (oh, bliss), I'd inevitably end up checking out the most good-looking novel.

Aesthetics aside, I've been looking for a book with more mystery and suspense, which keeps you on your toes guessing. The fact that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer also involves a paranormal theme just makes it even more appealing! Plus, I've heard TONS about the famous Noah Shaw...who can resist a smoking romance involving one very bad boy?

I can't wait to read this book and decide whether it was as great as its cover!