Review: Top Ten by Katie Cotugno

Title; Top Ten 
Author; Katie Cotugno

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: October 3rd 2017 by Balzer + Bray

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Ah. Where to start? 

I honestly can't find the words because it almost pains me to say that I did not like this book. I will try to make sense of why now.

First of all; the format. What was up with that? The book jumped from time to time without much sense. We'd be reading about senior year and then summer of freshman year, then junior year winter and it wasn't confusing per se (well at least not ALL the time) but it was annoying and pointless. Throughout I kept wanting to fix the damned timeline.

Another thing was that I didn't quite connect with either of the main characters. Even their friendship made no sense to me or them it seemed. And not in a way that they shouldn't be friends just like neither of us know if they are friends just because they want to be together.

But my biggest problem with it, and I hate to say it but I will, is that I found it to be boring. I honestly think the book offered nothing plot-wise. I finished the book not 12 hours ago and I can't tell you what it was about except two teens realizing they are better off friends. I think it tried to add substance by exploring Gabby's mental struggle with anxiety and Ryan's concussioned brain, but it wasn't enough for me. 

For example, they played Ryan's injury a lot throughout the book, they build it up with headaches getting more and more frequent and even having his personality change because of it. I was hoping it will get explored at the end if he had ny consequences because of it, but at the end the issue is suddenly dropped like nothing ever happened. It left me feeling cheated. And I just thought that overall the story lacked depth. 

As always, this is only what I think and in no way reflects an absolute. So I invite you to form your own opinion by picking up the book from your local library or bookstore.

Review: Just A Girl by Carrie Mesrobian

Review: Just A Girl 

Author: Carrie Mesrobian

Expected publication: March 28th 2017 by HarperCollins

Goodreads . Amazon

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After finishing Just A Girl all I can say is that it was, hmm, interesting. It was definitely attention-grabbing, if only because it was such a trainwreck. And I don't mean it in a bad way exactly, but not in a good one either. It's hard to explain why this book was not what I thought but I'll try.

First of all, I thought it was going to be about a girl who is just having fun with her life. But Rianne was not having fun, or it didn't seem to me she was. She pretended to be happy while all the time she was a big emotional mess. It was awful to witness.

Second, Rianne had a friend who was a big witch yet it literally made no difference to Rianne. I just don't get why Rianne would want to, and keep trying to, stay friends with a girl who is responsible for the whole school basically calling Rianne a slut. That's just wrong. That girl was a total bully and didn't deserve good friends like Rianne.

Third. The cheating. Need I say more? Rianne had a perfectly good boyfriend who was sort of clueless yes, and he didn't make her happy I give you that. So why not break up with him instead of pretending you love him in front of his family? That was so messed up I practically have shudders right now.

And finally, I have no real opposition against Russian guy Sergei, but my gosh, she knew nothing about him. They didn't even have that many conversations throughout. She even says she doesn't think it's love. Then I don't get why she would do what she did.

Honestly it was all much too messed up for me. I am certain that the author is alright and if she comes out with a book with characters I don't want to strangle I would most certainly give it a shot. Meanwhile I would advice you to read this one only if you don't have a problem with anything of what I mentioned above.

Review: The S word by Chelsea Pitcher

Title: The S word 
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Contemporary YA
Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Gallery Books
Goodreads | Amazon
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I am really really sad because this book had so much potential. The synopsis is engaging enough to make you think you are in for an emotional, thrilling ride with bullies and suicide and lost friendships. But what it truly delivers is a twisted, amateurish novel.

The mystery felt too childish. And the characters were unreal; they were like 50-year-old actors trying to be teenagers. And the writing was just weird and awkward. And pretty much everything Angie did make me uncomfortable.

SPOILER IN THIS PARAGRAPH: Another thing I have yet to process is Angie and Jesse. Jesse is Angie’s classmate, who dresses in skirt and is the reason his school has a Gay-Straight Alliance, but yet, he fell for a girl, he always thought he was gay but then he fell in love with two girls; so hey, points for originality, I haven’t read that before. But still, I think both Jesse and me are confused by this sudden change of direction (or sexuality I guess). I wanted to really ship Jesse & Angie as a couple, but my head was still trying to wrap itself around the fact that: WHAT? He wears dresses and skirts with converse and Angie is like “it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen”. I mean: ????????.

I was just too confused towards the end. Oh and the real person Lizzie was in love with? Who wouldn’t have seen that coming? I bet everyone did, so I was really mad they dragged it for so long.

So everyone was so psychotic it was hard to sympathize with any of them; but the one I hated the most was: Lizzie. She wasn’t even technically in the story yet she was unbelievably annoying. Every single entry in Lizzie’s diary made me pull my hair off of my skull. I don’t know what was happening, was the author trying to make us see she was oh so good, and nice and possibly the best girl in the world, or was it just that she doesn’t know teenagers don’t talk like that? Anyways, it was infuriating.

Oh my gosh, and the twist! That “twist” or whatever you call it. Did Angie have a split-personality disorder? Did she sleep-walk? What is going on?! Not one single clue was laid that Angie might have had something to do with it. It felt like the author pulled it out of her sleeve like a last resort or something.

The good thing and what kept me going was that there was some wit thrown in there and also, because I’m a sucker for novels with prom-queen-gone-emo. Also I have to confess I snorted/laughed out loud in some parts which are always a good sign for me.

So honestly, I can’t tell you not to read this one, or to read it. I have no way to advice you, but I can tell you that it ended up being not what I thought it would.

 

 

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Title: Easy
Author: Tammara Webber
Contemporary / New Adult
Published November 6th 2012 by Berkley Trade
Goodreads | Amazon
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So Easy has gotten raving reviews and 5 star-ratings all over the blogosphere but I’m actually disappointed. The story itself is good, I like that it has a good message of standing up for yourself and facing your demons. I loved that it included some taboo topics like rape and how almost every time a girl is raped society always end up blaming the victim. It has a good message and I appreciate it.

But even though I was sad about what happened to Jaqueline, I couldn't quite connect with her. Her blandness turned me off, she was kind of a mess and I hoped she would come to her senses by the end but she didn’t, it felt like she didn’t learn anything throughout (except self-defense) because she was still completely dependent of someone. She just trades her old Kennedy for a new Lucas; and although Lucas seems good and harmless, Kennedy did too, before, and I can’t completely trust Jaqueline’s choices. Oh and she was nosy.

Now Lucas wasn’t all awesome either, I thought he was way too quick to use his fists and even quicker to get down and dirty with Jaqueline (which is not all his fault but still) and his secrets and mystery had me fed up by page five and that’s why I couldn’t fall in love with him because I knew nothing about him, except for his gorgeous hair and gorgeous eyes and gorgeous body bla bla bla, I don’t fall for looks-only you know, they don’t call me Jaqueline. But I will admit the story behind the scars on his body is completely crushing and I shed a tear or two. However by the time the rabbit was out of the bag I couldn’t have cared less.

So although it seems like I just swallow some bitchy pills I am sorry but this is the way I feel and this is totally my point of view, I’m aware not everyone (possibly no one) will have the same complaints than me, but I did, and it bothered me, and I just didn’t like that. But don’t let me stop you and by all means go out and get this book if it has your interest ;)

 

Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Title: The sky is everywhere

Author: Jandy Nelson

Published March 9th 2010 by Dial (first published March 1st 2010)

Goodreads | Amazon

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since this books is supposed to become a movie somewhen this year (starring Selena Gomez, ugh) I thought I'd post my review of it:

Although I had HIGH expectations for this one, and I still think it doesn't live up to the hype, I found myself smiling as I read the last words. And it's because despite of it all, I think... I kind of enjoyed some parts.

But the characters, oh the characters, I didn't get them (no wait, I did get Joe, I think he's awesome) even though they were very three-dimensional, (I'm talking about Lennie here) I just couldn't swallow her, to me she was just a pathetic, little selfish brat with no life or personality at all.

But she kind of makes up for her flaws in the 2nd half, but everything about her bothered me in the first half, to the point that I couldn't believe a guy as perfect as Joe, would ever fall for someone like her.

Just as much as I didn't believe she really loved Joe, how could she love someone if she didn't know herself?, she didn't know who she was, she didn't know where she was going, she didn't know ANYTHING. And I hate it when a girl just goes out with a boy because he's there *cough* Katniss/Peeta *cough*. That was kind of the case here, we see Lennie making out with her dead sister's boyfriend because she feels they're the only ones who are feeling the same right now -barfs-. That plotline was so sick I would never get it, I mean if my beloved sister just died, making out (much less with her fiance) will be the last thing on my mind. But I guess horny teenagers cannot be changed, even through tough times.

But the romance in part 2 was good, and that was what made me finish this book (but I must confess I skipped a lot of paragraphs, if they didn't have the word 'Joe' on them I just went pass them) because Joe, the fiance's little brother, was the cutest thing in this book.

So, needless to say I'm not a big fan of it, but I'll try Jandy Nelson again if she publishes something in the future.