Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

 

Title: All The Bright Places 

Author: Jennifer NivenPublished January 6th 2015 by Knopf ADD ON GOODREADSYA Contemporary, romance, mental illness,Summary:Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

 I knew from the start that this was a book that dealt with suicide, which isn't an strange topic in Young Adult Literature and I have had my share amount of reading about it and experiencing it in the hospital. But you know you never really know everything about it, it´s impossible. It's a whole new world behind each case, each person.

At first I wasn't very into it. I liked the main characters enough. Finch seemed all over the place and his recount of things hinted his diagnosis at me right away. But it wasn't until he really began to tell his story that I became attached to him as a character. He wasn't a diagnosis anymore, he was a person and a ticking time bomb.

I feel like I could have liked Violet a lot more. To me she was a little bland and a little too passive. I know she was having a horrible time and I cannot begin to think how I would feel if I lost my sister, but I feel like I was just sitting there witnessing everything go to sh!t and it made me feel helpless and restless.

At the end it happened. And I guess it was inevitable and we all need to learn from it. Although it wasn't my favorite book on the topic, I will applaud and support every book that tackles on mental illness, especially in our youth. I don't have any statistics on where you live but when I did my Psych rotation I´d say around 50% of the people in the ward were teenagers. It literally shredded my heart. 

Talking to them you realize they know exactly the stigma that will follow them for most of their lives after they leave the hospital. These books are doing us all a favor. The more we educate ourselves the less weight we put on the shoulders of these people. So if I could advice you to give this one a try I would, even if it's no your cup of tea, at least it would be a good learning experience. I know it will stick with me. Now I can´t think of the words The Jovian–Plutonian gravitational effect without feeling like I´d burst into tears.

Review. Most Likely To Succeed by Jennifer Echols

Title. Most Likely To Succeed
Author. Jennifer Echols
Published August 4th 2015 by Simon Pulse
From Goodreads. 

As vice president of Student Council, Kaye knows the importance of keeping order. Not only in school, but in her personal life. Which is why she and her boyfriend, Aidan, already have their lives mapped out: attend Columbia University together, pursue banking careers, and eventually get married. Everything Kaye has accomplished in high school—student government, cheerleading, stellar grades—has been in preparation for that future.
To his entire class, Sawyer is an irreverent bad boy. His antics on the field as school mascot and his love of partying have earned him total slacker status. But while he and Kaye appear to be opposites on every level, fate—and their friends—keep conspiring to throw them together. Perhaps the seniors see the simmering attraction Kaye and Sawyer are unwilling to acknowledge to themselves…
As the year unfolds, Kaye begins to realize her ideal life is not what she thought. And Sawyer decides it’s finally time to let down the facade and show everyone who he really is. Is a relationship between them most likely to succeed—or will it be their favorite mistake?

I'm always glad to be reading anything by Jennifer Echols. Even if this time it was bittersweet, the end of her Superlatives Trilogy. Nevertheless I composed myself enough to get trough this without slamming my head down on a hard surface and screaming 'Noooo!'.

I was really into the book from the start. After all this is about Sawyer, who we met in Biggest Flirts as Tia's Friend with Benefits. I loved Sawyer since I met him so of course I was thrilled about reading his story this time.

Turns out he liked Kaye, Student Council Vice President, Head Cheerleader and Overachiever, who would have never thought she'd end up with someone as *gasp* imperfect as Sawyer. At fist I thought she was a little bland but then I started to like her when she opened up about the struggles of being black in a society that still has a ton of misconceptions and traditions. After that I liked her a lot, even if she let her mother be so rude to Sawyer. I kinda hoped she would have tried a little harder to get her point across that Sawyer is a good kid. But you know, moms will be moms, they'd never understand.

Anyway. I loved that we got to see all our previous couples! And that we get to witness them be happy and still together and awesome. Specially Tia, I loved her and she was as wild and careless as ever, that was an extra plus.

I think I am pleased about how the book wrapped up, and the whole trilogy did too. It was fun, sweet, sexy and short. Perfect for the summer. But just like the summer, it ended. So I guess I will be moving on until the time comes when I get another Jennifer Echols book in my hands.

Review: The Rules of Regret by Megan Squires

Title: The Rules of Regret
Author: Megan Squires
Published October 1st 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository
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The Rules of Regret was definitely a great contemporary read. I haven’t read anything by Megan Squires before but she truly impressed me with her writing. It just seem to had a way to draw you in and hold you until you gave it your whole attention. And it worked; I breezed through the pages until there weren’t any left.

I really liked the whole idea of camp, being outdoors and spending the night under the stars, it’s just all very magical to me, so naturally I was enchanted with the whole adventure Darby and Torin went through while they worked as counselors for a camp for troubled kids.

Both Darby and Torin had suffered through terrible losses. However they had completely different reactions, Torin took the high road and Darby became a mess. I cannot judge any of them, though ‘cause I haven’t been in their place but I definitely loved Torin for being so strong and showing that people can (and do) get over these things.

I did have a hard time understanding Darby and her acts, she was just so messed up and her life had became a lie since her tragedy that I just couldn’t tell what she felt or what she wanted, and I don’t think she knew either. But Torin was fantastic! He is the force that kept me glued to the book, he is really one of the good guys and I might like a bad boy once in a while but the good ones are the ones that really steal y heart.

To finish up I have to clarify that this is the very first New Adult I read that does not revolve around sex. I liked that. I think I loved that. Sexifying your book is not what makes it NA, and this book finally proves it.

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads / Amazon
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From my previous experience with Katie McGarry's debut I swore for sure that I wouldn't get near her second book. But then people started to get all up in my grill about how good it was and that I just HAD TO read. Well, I gave it a try.

Turns out they were partially right. The book didn't blow me away but it definitely left a better impression than its younger bro. Dare You To was just as action-packed as Pushing The Limits but it got less on my nerves. The characters were more relatable (at least Ryan) and in some level I could at least stand Beth. Katie has a way of making her main characters an over the top hot mess but this time Beth I was partially able to swallow her because she's a girl, and she wants what all of us wants, a good guy to fall for her.

I am not saying she welcomed Ryan with open arms, in fact she kept pushing him away to the point I would have slapped her to get some sense in her fake raven-colored head. Ryan went through a lot to get her to trust him but at the end she did trust him, and she learned that not everything was supposed to go wrong in her life.

The big plus this book has is the adorable Ryan Stone. Ryan is absolutely precious; the perfect southern gentlemen, driven and focused. He stands for what is right and he sees past the exterior (hello, hardcore punk named Beth). I love how he has the perfect amount of innocence but is not naive. I loved all his has perfect boy qualities and was instantly wooed. He was hands down the biggest highlight of the book.

So yeah, nowhere near the disappointment I was expecting, and all the baseball talk made it even more fun to me, so if you want to try this one then by all means do so, great read! (:

Review: Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Title: Nantucket Blue 
Author: Leila Howland
Contemporary YA
Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Disney Hyperion
Goodreads | Amazon
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Nantucket Blue was fresh, cute and reminded me about everything that is good about summertime. I actually started a bit apprehensive because Cricket, our heroine, was kind of annoying in a this-girl-doesnt-have-a-clue kind of way, she liked to do stuff and think about the consequences afterwards, so it got her in trouble sometimes. But despite my inability to like Cricket, I was still mesmerized by the beauty described.

I've never been to Nantucket but after this book I am enchanted by it, it definitely sounds magical. I also thought the story was sweet and it moved fast so I never got bored, but I got exasperated plenty of times. Maybe because Cricket was young and a student in an all girls school but she was just too self-centered, always thinking about why everyone and everything was unfair to her. I did like how she considered the Clayton's her family but I didn't like how she forgot about her own mother.

However, I couldn't hate Cricket towards the end, in fact, I even felt like hugging her and crying with her. I loved the sweet, sweet romance between her and Zack, and I was kind of surprised that Zack was younger than Cricket yet they still became a couple, that's kind of unusual in YA but here it worked. It made Cricket seemed a little bit cool to me.

I also think they way things ended between Cricket and her best friend Jules and between Cricket and her father; both were unfair but realistic. I loved that the author didn't try to give everyone a happy ending because that's not how things always end in real life, sometimes friendships are ruined and it sucks but it's real.

I would recommend to fans of My LifeNext Door and/or The Summer I Turned Pretty, since this has a similar tone. But honestly it's a good one for any contemporary fan :)

 

Review: The Rules by Stacey Kade

Title: The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1)
Author: Stacey Kade
Sci-Fi/Paranormal YA
Expected publication: April 23rd 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Goodreads | Amazon
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It was seriously a long wait I had to go through for this book. I'm a fan of Ms Stacey Kade's Ghost and the Goth series, so my expectations were high and I was super excited to dive into this new book world she created. I was not disappointed.

The Rules is about a girl, half alien half human, that has to follow this series of rules (the name had to come from somewhere) so she people don't realize her true identity and the bad guys who are after her don't find her.

It's really not hard to sympathize with Ariane, she's just a young girl who wants a normal life but the scientists who created her somehow convinced her she's a freak. My heart got all sad for her situation even though she has awesome abilities like levitating things and stopping hearts (not with her dazzling alien looks or anything).

And then there's Zane, tall, popular Zane who no one bothers to understand. He has a pretty messed father who is kind of a huge jerk and treats Zane like garbage. I didn't exactly loved how quickly Zane fell for Ariane but when you think about how bad of a hard time he was having maybe he only needed love.

I think the book did a great job of explaining everything we needed to know about Ariane and the company that created her. However at times it got way into the technical aspect and stuff I'm not sure I cared about so it borderlined boring. But aside from that, i liked the way the layout for the series was spread and I'm really excited to see what's next for our heroes in the next books, there's a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of room for more action.

 

 

Review: High School Hangover by Stephanie Hale

Title: High School Hangover
Author: Stephanie Hale
Published November 14th 2012 by Stephanie Hale
Contemporary YA
Goodreads | Amazon
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What an adorable book! I can’t even begin to explain how much I love The-Hangover type of books. When I was younger my favorite book of all time was this novel I found on my mom’s forbidden Harlequin box, about a girl that was saving her bff’s butt by getting his fiancé so drunk they ended up in Vegas, married and with no memory. I know, I know, not the kind of read a 12-year-old should have in her hands but I never followed the rules in what books concerned.

So it wasn’t actually that surprising that I ended up really enjoying this one. Laney was the valedictorian of her class and after her speech fiasco she decides to live a little and go to a party. You can guess things don’t turn out awesome for Laney but they definitely turned out funny for me.

I loved Laney, she’s a bit like me, except I don’t have her high IQ so I actually have to study. I get her excessive worrying about school and her compulsive studying, sometimes I don’t want to leave my house either but she just proved me that when you let yourself go you might end up having an amazing time.

Jack was another amazing cookie. I figured him out from page one but I was still delighted to hear his confessions towards the end. And seriously, who can not-love a guy named Jack? It’s practically a crime!

Now, in all through the chaos and the haze, Jack and Rose Laney end up hitching a ride from a bunch of senior citizens. People, you don’t know this about me but I love old people. I am even considering specializing in Geriatrics; I just can’t resist their charms. And I didn’t resist the charms of J&L’s travel companions, they were just the cutest bunch of funny lunatics, I loved every one of them, even Milly aka the GILF (that means what you think it means).

Yes, the story was a bit predictable, yes some things were unrealistic, and yes, the cover is kind of a turn-off; but I loved every minute I spend reading this book and the smile didn’t left my face way after I finished it.

 

Review: Something like Normal by Trish Doller

Title: Something like normal
Author: Trish Doller
Expected publication: June 19th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Goodreads | Amazon
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I spent 4 hours completely engrossed in this book. I even missed lunch. And the most important thing, I lost 4 precious hours of studying. Do I regret it, though? Not at all. I can tell you this, for me to sit through a whole book in just one day (when I clearly have things to do) is one heck of a sacrifice, and I won’t do it for any book, but Something like Normal was just really good.

I loved that it was written in a male POV. Especially because Travis was easy to sympathize with, you can’t help but root for the guy, he’s been through so much; he just got back from Afghanistan and there’s nothing in home that he missed, only his jerk of a brother who stole his girlfriend, her douchebag of a father who always treats him like poop, and his mother’s overwhelming love, it is just too much for him to take right now.

Lost in his nightmares and filled with guilt for surviving the shooting where his best friend Charlie was killed, Travis is kind of a train wreck. Until he sees Harper, the girl whose reputation he trashed back in middle school. And before they realize it, Harper and Travis get to know each other and discover they’re more alike than they thought. I loved their relationship, it was cute and didn’t feel rushed, I liked that they knew each other for a long time, and I liked that Harper didn’t lose her faith on Travis and was up to get to know the real him.

How beautiful is this picture, people?
check for more of the inspirational pics behind this story--> Ginger interviews Trish

The thing I liked the most about this book was the realness of it. It feels like you could really be reading someone’s story, like this Travis guy could be real and walking down the street in the other side of town. And it was educational to see the kind of things that marines go through, I am sorry to see that happening to anyone but it is reality and no one can escape that.

One thing I didn’t like though, was the language. It bothered me. I mean I guess I should have expected it, Travis is a nineteen year old after all, but the thing is I don’t know anything about 19yo boys, (I barely know anything about 19yo girls and I am one) so I was a surprised they can be that crude (although I refuse to believe all of them are like that, and Travis has had a tough life). I didn’t agree with most of his word choices (I am not talking about the swearing, although that was annoying too) when he referred to something Afghanistan related. I would be very angry to read that if I happened to be Afghan, but since I am not I was just angry. But I can’t ask people to feel the way I do, so if you don’t find it a bit insulting then good for you.

I will only advice that when you read this book you keep a clear mind and get a comfortable seat because you are going to be there for quite a long time. Because this book (with its contemporary romance and raw and real take on marines) will totally have you at the edge of your seat.

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Title: Starters
Author: Lissa Price
Published March 13th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Goodreads | Amazon
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There’s too many books out there about old people wanting to take over young people’s bodies, and it’s starting to freak me out. (For exemple, I can recall the ‘Airhead’ series by Meg Cabot) But anyway, we’re talking about ‘Starters’ here.

So the deal is, all adults have been killed by the Spore Wars, which was a war –duh- that used some kind of virus that cause the deaths of the middle-aged population, which means only the kids and the grandparents are left. And grandpas have became sort of inmortal but not really, they age but really slow so they are coming up with ways to enjoy the prime of their lives again.

aww I love seniors!

So this company invented a way to make it happen and now old people can “rent” the bodies of those young, unprotected minors who need money to survive. And Callie needed it for her brother who is young and sick. But something goes wrong and now Callie and her renter are connected, both of them in the same body, and the renter wants Callie to help her uncover the real evilness behind the company.

This leads Callie to meet Blake, and that people, is where my problems started. I absolutely hate insta-love, H-A-T-E it. And there’s not other way to describe this relationship, so that bugged me. But it doesn’t even come close to the rage fit I had at the end of this book, when the truth behind “the relationship” gets out. I wish I could say I wanted Callie to end up with the other one, Michael, the best friend, but both male characters were so incredibly bland that I just wanted them to get the heck out of the book.

DÉJÀ VU: People were not kidding when they compared this book to The Hunger Games. But it was too Hunger Gameish for my taste, really Callie had a different personality than Katniss but most of her actions and the situations she was thrown into, mimic (almost to perfection) the ones that Katniss went through. Just to name some examples: Callie has a best friend that comes from the same background and who might have feelings for her, but (of course) there’s another boy, and she has to choose. (-.-) Also, Sara was the Rue of this book, little girl befriends the heroine then gets killed for helping her out (-.-‘).

I am really sorry but what I am about to say but I have to be honest: I think the relationship between Blake and Callie was waaaay unbelievable (to put it nicely). I can’t explain without spoiling you but REALLY?! I will just say that after I finish the book I kept thinking I would find a way to get back all the time I invested reading their stupid relationship.

But even though I seem to have a lot of complains about this book, even though so much about it bugged me to infinity and beyond, I cannot say it was a bad book. It was well-written, and had its moments were I’d be all surprised or curious. Perhaps the sequel will be better; I certainly hope so, because it has potential. And some parts of it were really good and it’s certainly not a boring read, it moved fast enough to make me –queen of abandoning books- finish it, so yes I would recommend it for sure, who knows what bothered me might not bother you at all!

By the way. I adore the book trailers for this book! it's amazing and so true to the story!

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Published November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins

Goodreads | Amazon
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I’m having a hard time reviewing this book. When I love a book it’s real easy, when I hate a book it’s even easier, but when a book it’s just so-so I struggle.

It was not a bad book, about 1/3 in I was starting to get into the story but before that it was just a little too slow-paced for me. I mean I liked where it was coming from (Juliette is locked away because she accidentally killed someone with her bare hands) and were it was going (after almost 3 years of being alone she finally gets a cellmate and it casually turns out to be her elementary school crush). Interesting stuff, yet to get to know this, it took like 100 pages. I liked Juliette from sentence 1, but then at sentence 2 I was bored of her already, she was all “I’m so bad, my touch is evil, I hate myself, I’m so lonely, I want to see the birds, I want to see the outside world…” blah blah blah

It was good writing and I’m sure a lot of people loved the poeticness of it all, but I really don’t like it when the narrative drags on banal stuff not that important for the plot. Just take me to the action as soon as possible, please.

Now, leaving that out the book wasn’t so bad. I liked the storyline even though I’ve never been into X-Men stuff. You know Juliette has a superpower, and there might be other people who have superpowers too, so that was cool. The characters were my favorite part, although some of their actions and capacities were awfully convenient for the time/place if I say so myself.

I also didn’t like the potential love triangle, I'll kill the sequel if it dares to go there, -cause it will mean that either Juliette is pretty stupid messed up or the author thinks I’m stupid and will try to convince me for something I’m completely inconvincible of (but I don’t think so, Tahereh seems like a nice lady, I vote for option #1).

Now that I re-read this review I realize it doesn’t sound like I liked this book much, but I did. Believe me, if not, I wouldn’t have finished it. I haven’t read many GOOD dystopians but this is one of the best.

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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Review: Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn't have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Title: Ten things we did (and probably shouldn't have)

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by HarperTeen

Goodreads | Amazon

 

This book can be pretty much sumed up in just one word: fun. There was really nothing wrong with it, it was quick and fun and cute.

As you can probably guess from the title, it is about the 10 things April and her friends did while living without parent's
supervision for a whole semester. The part about that "explains" why they're left home alone is actually quite ridiculous (yet funny) but all the things they did are totally believable, (they're teenagers I'm surprised they didn't do worse things).

 

 

The story is told in flashbacks, it wasn't confusing, but sometimes it was annoying. It could go from last night to last year to the last decade :/ The good thing about it though, is that you learned a lot about the main character April and why was she the way she was and why she did the things she did. April was an interesting girl. Sometimes I hated her, sometimes I loved her.  She got me fooled quite a few times, when I thought she was gonna chose a certain jerk over the sweet, smart and cute guy.  It's the first time ever something like that happens to me, I usually can tell from page 1 with whom the girl will end up with, but I was not 100% sure this time.

 

 

What I really loved is that the teenagers in this story were very believable, I love them all, and understand them all. They were the real 'light' of the story. Because even though this book had some new, original concepts; it is still a story that's been told quite a few times (movies, books, tv shows, they've all at some point have had teenagers being home alone).

 

 

A thing I reaaaaally, really liked about this book was that it talked about STDs.

[Minor SPOILER ahead]----> Not only the normal stuff like "Use protection or you'll get an STD" but someone actually gets an STD, chlamydia to be exact. And she was not a promiscous girl, she only did it unprotected a few times, and it was enough.
Because I am a med student, you don't even know how much it bothers me when people are oblivious to things as important as this! Especially when they are sexually active, if you decide to have sex, you should first learn all about STDs and protection, not only birth control. Birth control is important but being pregnant won't kill you: HIV, gonorrhea, hpv, or syphilis WOULD. So get educated.

 

And just to be clear (because I don't feel the point is clear enough in the book) You cannot get chlamydia from the toilet seat, or from a hot tub, they NEED cells to grow in.

This review is short because I need to study (surprise). But even if this is short, it does not mean I didn't like it, it was pretty entretaining, and the brothers in this story were swoon worthy. And what the guy did to be save that cat was totally heroic, and because of that I'm in love with him <3

LIKED IT MORE THAN ENOUGH