Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkins

Published September 27th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Goodreads | Amazon

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What an good debut! I can't believe this is Michelle's first book. I can assure you that will not able to tell that when you read.

The story is a page-turner, and it's well developed, as are the characters. From Mara, to Noah, to Indi (Mara's mom) and Mara's brothers Daniel and Joseph, everyone was perfectly crafted and smoothly incrusted in the complicated yet unbelievably entretaining puzzle that this book is.

The first chapter is the best example of what is waiting for you: intrigue, spooky times, romance, teenage angst, complicated relationships and a glimpse at a larger paranormal spectrum... or is it mind games?

What is happening? Paranormal stuff? or are we just witnesses of the delusions of a mad girl?

I tell you, whatever it is, you cannot stop thinking about it, and you will wonder, all through the book. Be prepared to made a lot of theories!

Also, I have a kind of love/hate relationship with the first page.

[MINOR SPOILER AHEAD]...

[stop reading if you don't like spoilers, I'm serious!]

I mean what?! Mara is not her name?! makes me feel like I  don't know her at all! even though I know more about her than her mom (so to speak, I know she's not real!!... or is she?). But I have a HUGE crush on the cover, I think it might be my favorite cover of the year, is so so gorgeous!

Noah Shaw:

• he's British (Oh Noah, where do I get in line for a date with ya?)
• has killer hair, (ala Robert Pattinson? ehhh I think not, RPatz doesn't wash it)
• gets away with everything (you know how handy that can be?),
• is really tall (my 5'11 body and I appreciate that very much),
• is VERY rich (don't want to be superficial, but he can buy me books, I can't pass that)
• drives a Prius (don't you love green boys?)
• loves animals (and does not care if they pee on his Prius)

Although he was kind of a jackass and about 50% of the time I wanted to slap him. He could say the most obnoxious things, too. That's why he's far from perfect. And that's why I rate this book that way, because although the story was highly entretaining and also very original. I did not completely fell in love the characters. Noah (see above) and Mara, who could be such an airhead sometimes.

Weekend Update (not with Seth Mayers)

Okay so the weekend is finally here! it's the best time of the week because I can finally catch up with my studying.

But I was about to pass out from boredom (who knew there were soooo many antibiotics??) so I figure I could do a weekend update...

(This post has a lot of hyperlinks, btw)

Look at him! so happy and careless! someone should show him! *throws punches at the air*

1. Have you guys read the Fine Art of Truth and Dare excerpt? The first two chapters are up at Melissa Jensen's website.

It's awesome and cute and well see for yourself :)

2. Are you excited for A Million Suns? Book #2 in the Across the Universe series by the amazing Beth Revis. If you are, then you should go right now and like its facebook page, because when they reach 5000 fans they will publish the first chapter of aMS! (only 62 more to go).

3. Have you checked the latest news about Justin Bieber?? *sarcasm* well now you have an excuse to go check out Just Jared Jr. page and enter their giveaway, a Beautiful Creatures gift set that includes a tee! <3

4. Random: I lost a piece of hair because of my own stupidity. Yes, I did it myself. I was chewing gum and tried to spit it out aiming at the trash can. But my head was bent and my hair was shielding my face and the gum catapulted at a 45 degree angle and landed on my hair. I had to cut it out ):

Hope your weekend is going well excellent! ;)

Waiting On Wednesday: Revived by Cat Patrick

is a weekly meme created by Jill in which we showcase our most anticipated books

This week's choice is:

 ReviveD

by Cat Patrick

(add on goodreads)

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

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I loved Cat's debut Forgotten. In fact, me and a friend are obsessed with some parts of it, (like Luke and London's first date *swoon*)

So forgive me if I'm super excited about this one,

On monday, the cover was revealed and oh gosh, isn't it awesome??

I looooove the color, teal is a personal favorite of mine, I have teal shoes and hats and tops and scarves and okay you get it.

And I must admit I was a bit concerned about the cover reveal, because let's face it, the cover of Forgotten ended up being kind of hiddeous, and you can say whatever you want, but covers do play an important part in choosing a book.

But whatevs, what counts it's what's on the inside, and what is on the inside of this book, sounds reaaaally interesting.

Especially because we doctors (okay, doctor in training) try our best to preserve life, but to what point are we willing to go? reviving someone over and over again for God-knows-what?? I would have to think it through to before the book comes out in May next year.

Review: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Title: Going Too Far

Author: Jennifer Echols

Paperback, 245 pages

Published March 17th 2009 by Pocket Books/MTV Books

Goodreads | Amazon

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Right now I am seriously trying to figure out how to really, really kick myself. Right where it would hurt the most.

I can't believe this book came out in 2009 and I just read it for the first friggin time. I am so mad! so much time wasted!

This is a 'will-stay-with-you-for-way-long-after-you-turned-the-last-page' kind of book, which I am not that surprised to be honest, I've loved all of Jennifer Echols' books I have read so far, but this one took my love to another level.

Now, I must confess I have seen Going Too Far a lot of times before I decided to give it a try, because I just wasn't very into the 'police man falls for a high school girl' but I assure you,
it's nothing like that!

 

 

Yes, John is a policeman, but no, he's not a senior citizen, he's only nineteen; a year older than Meg. And the police stuff is not a big deal in this book, well, it is. But it isn't.

It is all about personal growing. John's and Meg's lives have both been tough, and that is what has given them such strong personalities, but that is also what appeals about them. You can't help but be drawn into their stories, and you will want to know about them and will want to comfort them. (what?? can't a girl dream of hugging a fictional character??)

we are only hugging!! gosh!!

Meg is the narrator and also one of my favorite leading ladies ever. From the start, with her enigmatic personality and apparently lack of self-love I understood she was not gonna be an ordinary main character. She knew her flaws and she was not afraid to embrace them, she didn't try to show herself as someone she wasn't, just to make people like her.
And she has blue hair.

like this but more 'I couldn't care less about my hair color'. 
This girl is saying 'Look at me, I am a model!'

 

John After might seem like a confident policeman at first. But his personality starts to shine through his uniform when he's with Meg.
He is one of my favorite characters ever, aswell. He knows how to trick people into believing he's an independent soul, and yes, he might be that, but he's still a child too. It broke my heart how he was afraid of showing his real emotions, because he knew that it will only take a crack to cause a major breakdown, where he will have to question all his motives to live the life he's living.

 

 

 

 

Both Meg's and John's stories behind their story were heartbreaking.

The reason why John is so obsessed with the bridge had me sobbing. And the reason why Meg is claustrophobic was impossibly sad and difficult. I found myself questioning if I would have done something different if (God forbbid) I would have been in her place.

 

 

This book is a roller coaster ride, intense and scary, but definitely worth waiting in line for hours. Tears will run at some point when you read it. And you have too. It's too amazing.

...

You still here?? Go get a copy and start reading! You'll thank me later (:

<3333333333333

Review: There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones

Title: There you'll find me

author: Jenny B. Jones

Published October 4th 2011 by Thomas Nelson

Goodreads | Amazon

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Remember I was crazy excited about this book?

remember I even made it my first Waiting On Wednesday ever? I thought I was definitely going to love this book.

Turns out I was absolutely and 100% right. Well, kind of. I l don't think I imagined I was going to love it this much.

I read it four days ago and I still think about it and smile, but let's get down to business, here's the review:

Waiting On Wednesday: In Honor

Weekly meme where we share our most anticipated releases 

This week's pick is:

IN HONOR

(click on title to add to your goodreads lists)

by Jessi Kirby

Honor receives her brother's last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn't. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

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I've been reading a lot of books where the main character loses someone close to her, usually a brother or a sister, I don't know why, 

I guess I like to read about how different people cope with a situation like that.

This one sounds like Saving June, but I hope it'll be different,

with the cowboy feeling and the marines stuff, and a guy named Rusty <3

I have my hopes up already (:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12049227-in-honor

Review: Boys, Wolves and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

Title: Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me  

Author: Kristen Chandler  

Published May 13th 2010 by Viking Juvenile

Goodreads | Amazon 

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I read this book back in January 12, 2011
but since Chandler's second book is coming out this week I figure it was cool to share my experience with her debut work.

I LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK.
I know it's a little early in the year to say this, but it will probably be my favorite of 2011, it has THAT potencial.

It was amazing. It was one of those times when you just love EVERYTHING about a book. Even though it couldn't be more alien to me, not even paranormal books are farther from my reality, yet I loved it. And connect with every character, understood everyone of them.

And if you're like me a don't really care about wolves, it doesn't matter! the wolf part is not boring at all, it kind of felt like big metaphor about life, and I liked that.
Also, I learned A LOT from this book. 'Cause being a city kid, I never stopped to think about how the economy problems and all the recession thing affected the ranchers and not just us in the city.

The book setting is West End, Montana, popullation: 900-and-something.
Story's heroine: KJ (Katherine Jean). She's sixteen, dislexic, and has a complicated relationship with her father. But not in a I-hate-you-we-yell-at-eachother-all-the-time way, it was refreshing to read about a relationship like that, different from every other father-daughter relationships I've read (the few of them in YA books). They both loved eachother but it was just... you have to read it.

I loooooooved KJ. She thinks she's stupid, a redneck (literally), a loser. She couldn't be more wrong. She's brave, and witty, and she doesn't give up. In about 99% of the books I read I end up loving the guy more, 'cause let's face it the guy is usually perfect= cute, romantic, understanding, whatever. Well not here, loooooooved KJ more.
BUT it doesn't mean I didn't love the guy. I loooved Virgil, too. He's sooo brave, and understanding, and overall, the boy has guts. He was even shot and he didn't complained or anything, 'cause he knew there might be consecuences when you fight for the things you believe in. And he wasn't afraid.

So, again, I loooooooved EVERYTHING about the book.
I would have liked some more romance, though (I'm a romantic what can I say?) but I'm soooooo pleased with it, I just can't complain.
The book's awesome.

Oh! forgot to say that a lot of parts were laugh out loud funny! The most embarrasing things happen to KJ, seriously <3

Book fairs make me happy

Ahhhh. Book fairs, don't we all love them?

And I love seeing Young Adult books plastered all over the walls

Those were throughout the fair, the actual Young Adult stand was packed, I forgot to take pictures because I was too busy deciding what to buy

I ended up just buying three oldies but goldies (four, if you count a copy of mockingjay for my little brother), but I'm coming back next week for the closure and Tonya Hurley's signing and I plan to buy a lot more ;)

isn't that an awesome bag? it has Einstein on it! and it says Book Smart. I'm so carrying it everywhere!

Waiting on Wednesday: Girls Don't Fly

Weekly meme hosted by Jill

This week's choice is Girls don't Fly by Kristen Chandler

(add to goodreads lists)

Myra is used to keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She's got four younger brothers, overworked parents, and a pregnant older sister, and if Myra wasn't there to take care of everyone, they'd probably fall apart. But when her boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her, Myra feels like she's lost her footing. Suddenly she's doing things she never would've a few months earlier: quitting her job, applying for a scholarship to study birds in the Galapogos, and falling for a guy who's encouraging her to leap from her old life . . . and fly.

Set in the Salt Lake City area, Girls Don't Fly is full of intelligence, humor, and is a refreshing change of pace for teen readers.

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I read Chandler's debut, Boys, wolves and other things that might kill me, at the beginning of this year and I absolutely looooved it.

So I was thrilled to find out Kristen was gonna have another book out this year, I really really can't wait for it. It comes out next week (the 13th) so the waiting is almost over! yay!

Review: Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the boy next door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Published September 29th 2011 by Dutton

Goodreads | Amazon

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Things I loved:

• Cricket. I liked him from the first moment I read him, and I know exactly why... because he reminds me of my beloved Dexter from Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby. Cricket's like Dexter long lost twin (yes, Cricket has 2 twins haha), they are both tall and have crazy hair and the same animated, cheerful and extremely charming personality that makes it impossible NOT to love them.
 
• The setting. I've never been to San Francisco but Perkin's obvious love for it was contagious.
 

 

• The childhood flashbacks. Those stories were the cutest! I loooooooved the one about the elevator! *wink*
• The romance. It may have driven me crazy sometimes, but the chemistry and most of all, Cricket's love for Lola, was undeniable.
 
• Calliope. I understood where she was coming from and why she was so interested in letting Lola know that she was not doing the right thing leading Cricket on. Her interest was saving her brother from heartbreak, and don't we all want to save our brothers from that? (:
 
• Anna and Etienne. Awww, lovely surprise! they're the best! <3
 

Things I didn't like:

• The parentals. I mean I get they want to pretect their daughter but really?! did they have to be so rude? It's not like Lola is a saint so why blame only Cricket (or Max for the matter). And they really should have said something to Lola before all the mess exploded, they saw what was happening between her and Cricket and they knew she was with Max, I bet my parents would have sat with me and made me come to my senses.

 
• Lola's dilemma. If she had a fresh personality, I could have not cared less. Most of the time her selfishness bugged me to infinity and beyond. Maybe because she was young (17)? maybe because she was in love with the jerk (Max)? but I simply didn't get her choices.
 
• Lola's  lack of relationship with her mom. I hated the way she treated her mom, it only made her look selfish and childish. I thought with the costumes and all that she didn't care what people thought of her? her actions told me otherwise.
 

Things I didn't care about:

• Lola's style.
• The Marie Antoniette gown.
• The anti-hobos trauma.
• The best friend's obsession with Nancy Whats-her-name.
 



Isn't he super cute? aww hahaha

 

Things I'm excited about:

• The revelation of the conection with Isla's story. [*SPOILER AHEAD*] I was ecstatic to see they're going to France for the Olympics! YAY! I've always liked Isla, she's quiet and serene and shy but she stood up for Anna who she didn't even know that well, and my heart bursts with love for her. And Josh! oh please don't get me started with Josh! he was my favorite character from Anna and the French Kiss and I can't friggin wait for his story! <3.

In conclusion:

   

 >

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