Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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Pushing the Limits was what I expected but at the same time it wasn’t. I mean I knew it was going to be a deep read, but somehow it managed to still surprise me.

My favorite part was the characters, they were very well done and even if I didn’t agree with their choices, I accepted them because in the course of the book I got to know them and their personalities.

The main characters are Echo and Noah. Echo is been having a tough time since her big brother died while serving for the marines, and then, adding to the tragedy, there’s the mysterious accident with her bipolar mother that wiped her memory clean of the reason she bears so many scars (both internal and external), now she can’t remember the reason why her life got so screwed up in the first place. I liked Echo, I like that she wanted to hold on to the memory of the way her family was before, because I know I would have done that too. I liked that she still had hope for her mother, because there’s almost nothing in the world that can eradicate the love for a mother. Her actions were believable, if slightly annoying sometimes.

Now Noah, I still can’t decide about him. Let’s review the facts:

·         He used to be a popular jock with a great life.

·         Then his parents died at a house fire, but he and his little brothers survived.

·         He became a foster kid and got separated from his brothers.

·         His foster parents were very screwed up.

·         He is in danger of losing his brothers to the system.

·         He became an angry dude with a filthy mouth.

For all he’s been through, my heart warmed for him right away. But then he opened that mouth! It was hard to concentrate on his story when he was such a jerk all the time! I wanted to be all like “aww come here” but his next words would make want to run away from him and wash my hands. I get his life, really, I feel you, Noah; but being nasty just makes things worse. And makes it difficult to sympathize with you.

The story of Echo’s accident, the reason for her extremely scarred arms, was also an attention grabbing part of the book. Because Echo doesn’t remember that, so all through the book you see glimpses of what happened and you start making theories of course. My theories were right but I still enjoyed the ride. BUT! And don’t mind this but, being the huge nerd that I am, I am still unsure of how she got the scars… spoiler: there’s no way her arms could have gotten those scars just because of a fall, even if she fall in 50,000 pieces of glass, they pieces would have just stuck to her skin, not made jagged, long scars. And even then, the would have been in the back of her arms, not in front, so no one would have been able to see them from the front, but suspiciously they were there… or maybe I just remember wrong? I am writing this review like 2 months after I read this.

So, even though I enjoyed this book, quite frankly, I can’t rate it 5 stars because of reasons.

Reason 1 is a spoiler, so highlight if you want to know: WHAT?! He didn’t get to keep his brothers! Pardon me if I want a happy ending in my books! God knows there’s not enough of them in real life ):

Reason 2: yeah you guessed it, Noah’s crudeness was a major turn off for me.

Reason 3: Too many issues here, it was on the edge of unbelievable, these characters could not catch a break.

That’s it.

Overall, an enjoyable read and great debut. I'm looking forward to more from the author.

I loved this scene, Echo was on a date with some weirdo but then something happened and she ended up with Noah.
Who shared his food (aww) because Echo being Echo forgot her money :/

Review: The Disreputable story of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Title: The Disreputable story of Frankie Landau-Banks
Author: E. Lockhart
Published March 25th 2008 by Hyperion
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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While I liked some parts, and the story-line, and Frankie was definitely a good character (at the start of the book at least), I was very disappointed with the ending.

I was so excited to dig in, Frankie goes to a very upscale, very preppy school where everyone is son of the president and stuff. Frankie is not rich but her father is an old-alum and he was able to get Frankie and her sister Zada in. In her freshman year, Frankie is always in her sister’s shadow; tall, lanky and frizzy-haired, Frankie was invisible.

But a year later Zada is off to college and Frankie returns to school all grown up (if you know that I mean). This of course attracts attention from the guys there, including Matthew Livingston, the most popular senior in all school. But a relationship with Matthew also includes a relationship with his inseparable friends Alfa and whats-his-name.

The three guys are part of a secret, men-only society called The Hound dogs and Frankie, a feminist and also a bit of a jealous girlfriend, finds a way to secretly lead all the Hound Dog boys into doing some creative (and socially conscious) pranks.

Now it had all the potential to be an amazing book. Frankie started off great, all witty and sassy and putting men in their place, but as the story progressed and she fell more for Matthew she got kind of pathetic.

All through the book I was waiting for the moment Frankie would find a way to show everyone that she was the mastermind behind the pranks, that she is as (or even more) intelligent than the Hound Dogs and that she doesn’t need Matthew to be awesome. It was kind of dissapointing that she blamed it on love, but really, how much in love can a 15 year old be? and maybe she was just in love with the idea of Matthew. I don't know, all I know is that when she was around him she was kind of an airhead, and when she wasn't with him she was Brain.

But sadly, she let me down and with her, all the book went. I loved some parts of course, the emails she sent her ex-boyfriend Porter were genius, and I wish she had stayed that awesome through the whole book. Also, she deserved much better than Matthew Livingston (son of the owner of the biggest newspapers in America) and it made me so sad she couldn’t see it.

Interview: Jeannine Garsee, The Unquiet

Hello there.

You ever heard of the book The Unquiet?
You should be ashamed if you answer is no, but you're forgiven, you can check my review of it or check it's goodreads page here.

But if you haven't read it and are interested (it's amazing and creepy) then check out my interview with the author, Jeannine Garsee:

First of all, OMG are you planning on writing a sequel?!

I would LOVE to write a sequel--in fact, I'll been playing around with one...but it's really up to the publisher. I'm hoping they'll ask me for one. I left a lot of loose ends on purpose, hoping I could wrap up up in a sequel. I know people are wondering what happened to Lacy, and there is still the question of the old lady (Miss Prout) who "disappeared"...and the writing on Rinn's cast, of course. So keep your fingers crossed!

Bipolarity, suicide, depression; you take on some difficult topics in your book. What was your research? Have you met people dealing with these?

My primary research was my job. I am a registered nurse and I work in a psychiatric ward and work with people with all of these illnesses on a daily basis. I also did some research on my own because Rinn is only sixteen; as all of my patients are adults, I knew there'd be additional issues for a teenager dealing with mental illness.

One of my favorite things in this book is the ghost, Annaliese. For the people that haven’t read the book, can you tell them a little bit about the real story that inspired you to create her?

When I was in kindergarten, I started at a school that had an "abandoned" pool as well as a tunnel that ran alongside it. The story was that, during the construction, a child fell into the pit and was killed, and it was her ghost that haunted the school. I absolutely believed it, as did all my classmates, and we were all terrified to walk through that tunnel alone. I promised myself way back then that, if I ever became a writer, I'd write about this ghost--and of course I did. :)

Have you ever been to a haunted place?

I actually grew up in a house that my family believed was haunted. It wasn't an old mansion or anything like that, just your average suburban bungalow. But doors would open and shut by themselves, pictures would fall from the wall with seemingly no cause, and at times I'd hear footsteps in the hall outside my bedroom even when no one was home except me. Once, my mother swore someone grabbed her shoulder when she was alone in the basement, doing laundry. We'd occasionally hear a "whining" sound, the strangest thing ever, and could never pinpoint the source.

What is the scariest thing a ghost could do to you?

I think the scariest thing a ghost could do to you is make you believe you have mental problems. I remember hearing the "whining" sound when I was home alone, and, too afraid to stay in the house, I waited--petrified--for my parents out on the patio. Imagine if you knew something strange was going one, and no one but you seemed aware of it. It'd certainly cause you to question your own sanity! And if you persisted in telling people about your ghostly encounters, it's very possible they'd think you were delusional--and that, of course, leads to other problems for you. I never talked about my ghostly encounters for years (the haunted house wasn't my only experience) for that very reason. Once I realized others have also been touched by supernatural, I was less leery about discussing my own experiences--although, I must admit, I still get some horrified reactions.

If you could come back as a ghost what place would you haunt?

I'd like to be a kind of "Phantom of the Opera" ghost. I love the stage, love plays and musicals, etc. I like to be able to haunt a theater AND enjoy the performances at the same time!

Thanks for your time, Jeannine :)

You can check her website: Jeannine Garsee

She is also on: Facebook & Twitter

Waiting On Wednesday: The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

 

 

 

Hello there.

 

This week's choice:

 

 

 

The Lucy Variations

by Sarah Zarr

 

A once-promising concert pianist now believes that at 16 her best years are behind her — a belief that everyone she knows seems to agree with, until she meets her brother's attractive new piano instructor.

Goodreads 









I know we don't have much to go with but is there any more reason to read/buy/sleep with 
this book besides the fact that this is written by the fabulous Sara Zarr?

It also contains a child prodigy, my favorite instrument and AN ATTRACTIVE INTRUCTOR.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

HYSTERIA

by Megan Miranda

Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . .

When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo





I just got Fracture for my kindle, and I remember the amazing reviews from last year so Megan Miranda must be an excellent writer, I can't wait to dive in. As for Hysteria, really stabbing and amnesia and strange voices?! I'm already feeling the chills...

I also would very much read any and every YA book with a boarding school in it. Because they are awesome.

PS. Did you know Megan Miranda graduated from MIT? I love me some brainiacs :D

Review: The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Title: The Unquiet
Author: Jeannine Garsee
Expected publication: July 17th 2012 by Bloomsbury
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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I was so surprised by this book, I started with the idea that this was a contemporary read (I love Contemps!) but it turned out to be more than that, it was paranormal and fantasy and a lot of things mixed in a bowl of awesome.

Rinn Jacobs is on medication because of bipolarity disorder (which by itself is such a complex illness) so that was definitely an interesting point for me. Rinn was part of the unfortunate incident where her beloved Grandma was killed, she of course felt very guilty so she tried to kill herself.

So as part of the treatment for her depression, suicidal thoughts and bipolarity; Rinn’s mom moves them away, to the tiny town where she grew up. But it doesn’t turn out the way she wanted it and now Rinn’s illness is getting worse or are the allegations of the evil entity a real thing?

That’s one of the most interesting concepts on this book. Are there such things as ghosts? Is it all in Rinn’s head? Would someone believe her theories? One thing cannot be denied, though; people are suddenly dying, horrible deaths that shock the whole town and that are difficult to understand.

I loved Rinn. That girl is as tough as nails, yes she might be sick but she’s not going to take shizz from anyone that wants to mess up with her. Most importantly, she believes in herself, of course she has some doubts about all the things she’s going through but she is not afraid to take chances and put herself at risk to find out some answers. The depth in her character blew me away, I didn’t expect her to be so likable (don’t judge me for thinking she was going to be all like: “I’m so bad, I hate myself, I should die”, she has some moments though but nothing annoying).

Also the guy she meets in this new town? He’s name is Nate, and he is amazeballs too. Nate is Rinn’s neighbor, and he’s a gentleman. I love him, I love the way he treated Rinn, not like she was sick but like he was utterly in love with her personality and charms. I was thrilled that he knew from the beginning about Rinn’s bipolarity and he didn’t run away.

Oh and every other character in this book is great aswell. They all show a 3-D realness and sport their own personality. And while I also really liked Rinn’s others friends, Tasha and Meg and Dino and Cecilia, and even Lacy, they were all a broad group that added different things to the table, all in all I thought they represented well the variety of high schoolers.

Dude, the mystery was killing me! Just when I thought I had everything figured out, something would happen and I’d be all like “hmm nope, opposite direction”. It was a thrill ride! Lots of twists that I did not see coming, and lots of chill inducing moments. The feeling and the intensity in all of the scenes make up for an amazing book that I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy.

Interview: Jennifer Echols author of Such a Rush

People of the wooooooooooooooooooorld!

I love Jennifer Echols' books. I love love love them. She's one of my favorite authors and if you've read my review of her latest book Such a Rush, you know I loooooved it too.

So I couldn't resist and had to write a mini interview for her about SaR.

Here you have it, enjoy:

Waiting on Wednesday: Time Between Us by Tamara I. Stone

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

Time Between Us

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo



Now I wasn't sure about this one, I mean, it looks and sounds amazing but I didn't want to get my hopes up like with so many books this year so I kind of pushed this one aside and waited...

but all the early reviews I've read are prasing it, so maybe, maybe it will really be awesome. I'm excited for it again :D

Review: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Such a Rush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published July 10th 2012 by MTV Books
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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Amazing is not a strong enough word to describe this book, but all things considered I would say it’s the most fitting. Jenn Echols has delivered another great book that will sure make it to lots of people favorites list. Such a Rush is everything you hope a book can be: appealing characters, complex romance, fast paced and nail-biting drama.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been waiting for this book, but I tell you this: it was a long time, and everytime Ms. Echols talked about it I swear my toes curled; well, it was actually 1000x better than I hoped. How can you go wrong with such an interesting line of events and an equally interesting line of people?

Leah Jones is the book narrator. At the beginning, she’s only 14, just moved to a trailer park next to a tiny small-town airport where she gets a job answering the phone and pumping gas for airplanes. Leah loves airplanes, so she saves up money for a flying lesson given by a local man, Mr. Hall, who runs a banner towing business. Mr. Hall has three boys, Jake the oldest flies a plane for the army, and twins Alec and Grayson are Leah’s age and they both want to be pilots too. The three sons are fun, adventurous, intense and panty-dropping handsome, from what Leah can tell from the distance, that is; she has never been close with them. But she watches them and wishes they would notice her, Grayson especially, the adrenaline junkie on whom she has developed a big crush.

When Jake gets killed in Afghanistan, Mr. Hall’s heart can’t take it, and soon he dies too. Leah is crushed; Mr. Hall was her was her friend, not to mention her only hope of ever becoming a pilot, because he had offered her a job at his banner towing business. But surprisingly, the twins come back to town to try to get the business going again. Even though Leah’s always liked the boys, they didn’t seem to like her at all, so she can’t believe Grayson, the black sheep of the family, is making her fulfill the contract she made with his dad about flying a plane for him. Leah’s not sure she can trust Grayson, but he has something on her, so she must do what he says or her dream of becoming a pilot won’t ever come true.

I hate love triangles, but the one in this book is kind of a love-triangle but not, you’ll see what I mean when you read it but I can assure you, you won’t be bothered by it, you will be too absorbed in the details of the story to even start to realize it’s a love triangle. I just love it when a book has an invisible hand coming out of it that takes me by the neck and doesn’t let go, that’s Such a Rush for you. It’s completely engrossing and it will have you at the edge of your seat. It’s so amazing to see how people can develop characters that are this deep, relationships that are so intricate a cobweb would be jealous.

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published June 14th 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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My Life Next Door starts like any other Contemporary book I’ve read. It’s a cute story but I am not captivated right away. Samantha Reed has spent the last ten years watching the Garrets from her balcony. The Garrets are this big, loud family that live next door, from the start, Sam’s super strict, Senator mom, forbids her to make any contact  with them, she despises them because they are exactly like Sam’s dad family and since that doesn’t bring good memories to Sam’s mom, she has to stay away from them.

But Sam is not a stalker, she’s just mesmerized by the warm ways the Garrets carry their life, while she’s stuck in her cold palace of a home.

You guys, I thought this was another Rich-girl-likes-boy-from-the-other-side-of-the-tracks story, but it ended up being much more. Yes, Sam is rich and sometimes naïve and immature, but she handles herself well, she has a great heart and doesn’t take anything for granted. It was easy to like her because she is a good person. Which Jase Garret notices right away, she always thought Sam was a snob with stalkerish ways, but as soon as he meets her, he realizes he judged her wrong.

Waiting On Wednesday: 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

17 & GONE

by Nova Ren Suma

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace.

As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository






People, I'm so excited for this one.
17 and Gone sounds intense and mysterious, exactly my kind of read!

*CRAZY IN NEED*

Review: This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Title: This Is Not a Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Published June 19th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon
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Attention Please, we interrupt this program, with some disturbing news, world-wide evacuation, we're going to lose, they've pulverized our nation...

This Is Not A Test has been on the back of my mind for a long, long time. Ever since I first heard Courtney was writing this book, I kept thinking of the levels of awesome it could reach. The waiting was long and cruel, and everyone seemed to have read it already. My heart couldn’t take it much longer, and then suddenly the day was here. I DEVOURED THIS BOOK. And it’s been at the back of my mind ever since.

Since I was already a fan of Courtney, I knew what I was getting into but still, nothing can prepare you to the punch in the gut this book is. For real, it is an epic punch in the gut that extends for pages and pages of heartbreaking goodness. The story is simple enough: 6 teenagers are trapped in a high school building after escaped what seemed to be the end of the world as we know it. That’s the beauty of this book, simple story, incredibly complex characters.

Sloane Price is our main character; the end of the world seems to be happening the same day she chose to end her life. Bold and ironic, I was hooked. While everyone else is fighting to survive she is looking for a way to give up.

The rest of the cast is amazing too, these teenagers add so much to the story, each shining their own light.

·        Cary. He is the “leader” of the group, well for some of them, because after what happened at the start of this whole revolution, some members of the group want him gone for good.

·         Rhys. The careless guy that spend his high school days smoking at the back of the building. His locker was across from Sloane’s, and he has taken her under his wing.

·         Trace & Grace. Twins. They lost their parents and didn’t seem to recover from the blow, but they still have each other, that’s a thousand times more than any of the other teens have.

·         Harrison. No one knew him from “before”. He is a freshman that only seems to be dead weight. He cries a lot.

Each of these characters has their own personality, their own story, and their own uniqueness that made it impossible to confuse them. Each of them teaches you a different side of life, and makes you question what you would have done in their place.

I don’t want to say more, because it’s better if you experience this book going without knowing too much before. I can only say that it’s a sad yet hopeful ride. I loved the thrill I got all throughout and I loved the characters too much. Same beautiful prose that Courtney is known for, and perfect unraveling of an incredible story. I wish it hadn’t end!

I didn't see this coming.

A much needed spark of love.

We found love in a hopeless place (8)

On a sidenote: I loved this book, it was spectacular; however, it didn’t reach the level of love I thought it would. Some Girls Are & Cracked Up To Be are still my first and second in the Courtney Summers rank. Then Fall for Anything & this one tie for third.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts on it? Please share ;)

When my incredible artistic skills met my blog...

Hello there?

IS ANYONE HERE?!

Sorry I've been such a horrible blogger but school kicked my (non existing) balls and I never got back up. Well, it I did, but it took me a while.

But I am back and while enjoying a pleasant game of DrawSomething I came up with an idea for my reviews.

So I introduce you to:

Where I get to dazzle you with my mad drawing skills while trying to represent certain scene that I loved or find it imperative to share. I will try to chose non-spoilery ones but if I ever chose a spoilery one you will be told before.

Stay tuned for a lot from me coming this summer ;)