Review. The Hundred Lives of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

Title. The Hundred Lives of Lizzie Lovett 
Author. Chelsea Sedoti
Release Date. January 3rd 2017 by Sourcebooks
Goodreads /  Amazon
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Who would have thought I’d be reading a book about a girl suspecting another girl’s disappearance was because she turned into a werewolf?

I certainly didn’t expect it. Neither I think I knew what this book was about when I opened it. I wonder if that had changed things. Probably.

Because I am not a fan of fantasy. Or a fan of werewolves for the matter.

And yet.

Yet I pretty much read the whole book in two sittings. Because even though strange things started rolling—like Hawthorn, the narrator, convincing herself Lizzie Lovett a local girl who disappeared, turned into a werewolf—I not only chose to keep reading, I was in fact like..

Yes, really. And the strange things keep on piling up. Like Hawthorn somehow starting to live Lizzie’s life, getting her job and maybe even her boyfriend all while trying to solve a mystery that it seemed only she cared about.

I was appalled, worried, concerned for her sanity, but I was also very compelled. The story is weird and magical in a sense. Very different from what I am used to in Contemporary YA. And I loved it. I really truly did, it had that marvellous combination of an outcast opening her eyes to see the world around her for the first time, and experiencing heartbreak and love and fun and pain in the process. Pretty much what I seek in any contemp I read. 

If you are like that I suggest you give this book a chance too. It might surprised you in an awesome way like it did with me.

PS. I can never get over how cute Connor's nickname for Hawthorn is. Thorny. Thorny, Thorny, Thorny. Ow, my heart.

Review: The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

Title: The One Thing 
Author: Marci Lyn Curtis
Expected publication: September 8th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
From Goodreads: 

Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.
Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.
Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.
But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future... before she loses everything she has grown to love.

So what's your thing? The One Thing that makes you the happiest?
Mine is easy, it would be reading amazing books. And I am thrilled to inform you that this is one of them.

I had the most magical experience reading this novel. I don't even know what to say about it right now so I don't spoil it for everyone else, just that it was fabulous. I mean is not everyday you find a book that is mainly focused on the relationship between a seventeen year old blind girl and a semi-paralyzed ten year old boy. That alone makes me want to grab the book and read it again, to remind myself of how incredibly beautiful and funny and heartbreaking and uplifting it was.

To me, it is Maggie and Ben's relationship that completely made the book. They were the best pair of mismatched friends I have ever read. But that's not to say I didn't appreciate, and LOVED other aspects of the book. Like Maggie's grandpa, Gramps, who takes her granddaughter to Target and then abandons her at the Feminine Products aisle and talks to her about his swollen prostate. And Ben's mom, who welcomes strangers to her home with bear hugs and saves stray animals. And of course, Ben's brother Mason, lead singer of Maggie's favorite band, reformed bad boy and Ben's biggest cheerleader.

I loved everything about this book that even now writing this makes me want to go back and read it again. If only just for Ben, and his incredibly bright soul, his awkward question and his larger than life personality. He calls Maggie his girlfriend the first time he meets her, he was a ten in my eyes right in that moment. And Maggie, with her dark humor and sarcastic personality that doesn't hide her soft heart and her struggle to cope with her new vulnerability. She went from soccer goddess to a friendless blind kid. My heart swelled for her. That's why my favorite part was the first half, when Ben and Maggie's friendship blossoms.

The second half was harder. If only because of it deals with all the difficult issues that were swept under the rug before. Especially the twist. I found it hard to understand both Maggie and Mason's reactions after that, but I guess I wouldn't know what to make about it either.

In the end I think this was an excellent read. I haven't been so enthralled in a novel in months, and this one awoke me and shook me and practically kicked me out of my reading stupor and reminded me that YA is full of magical surprises.

Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Title: Emmy & Oliver 
Author: Robin Benway
Expected publication: June 23rd 2015 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary, drama
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo

 According to my goodreads account, I have been waiting for this novel for almost two years. Two years of anticipation that built up a lot of expectations. And to be totally honest, this novel did not disappoint.

Emmy & Oliver is about two childhood friends reunited ten years after Oliver was kidnapped by his father. If that isn't enough to catch your attention I don't know what you're doing reading this. It was an emotional roller coaster, there's no other way to describe it.

Robin did an amazing job at capturing what each of the characters went through because of this horrible experience. Which made me connect with everyone in the book and really see the reasoning behind their actions. I absolutely loved that this book doesn't tell you how to feel but instead questions your feelings. It reminds you that the world is not black or white but shades of gray.

Despite you would expect this book to be about Oliver, he is the one who was kidnapped after all, it is so much about Emmy too. Everything she went through and how that shaped who she is now. I loved Emmy, she to me was the strongest character. Apart from Maureen, Oliver's mom, who is reminiscent of Michelle Pfeiffer in The Deep End of the Ocean (this film is a jewel, you should see it ASAP) just as heartbreaking and fierce at the same time.

And I just don't think it is appropriate to continue trying to explain this book because it won't do it justice. Every YA Contemporary fan should experience this one for themselves.

Review: Between The Notes by Sharon Huss Roat

Title: Between The Notes 
Author: Sharon Huss Roat
Expected publication: June 16th 2015 by Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary, Drama, Music
Goodreads | Amazon | The BookDepo

There's something magical about Between the Notes. Something that transported me back to my teenage years, something every YA is supposed to do but it's actually rare nowadays. Because to be honest, I read YA all the time and I didn't know I've missed this so much until I had it again, the thrill of expecting the unexpected, the twist in the story that will make you go 'woah'.

I loved it. I loved this despite of the love triangle. In fact I think I loved it because of the love triangle.

Ivy's family is going through a difficult financial situation. She is been wealthy all of her life but now she's forced to relocate to a modest setting where she has to learn the real value of money, and truth, and friendship and of course, love.

People, Ivy Emerson is likable. Even if she starts off as a snob, you just can't help to like her. And her internal growth throughout the book is off the charts. I enjoyed every step of the way. And let's not even get started on the rest of the  characters, who were all amazing, from Ivy's parents to Kaya and Brady, her little brother and sister, the loyal friends Reesa and Molly, and let's not forget the love interests, James Wickerton with his romantic notes and drawings, and Tim Riggins, I mean Lennie Heart-Of-Gold Lazarski.

I cannot say enough good things about this novel. So I'll settle for: read this! the message behind it alone makes it worth it, but the spectacular way it's written will make you stay for the rest.

Review: Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Title: Solitaire
Author: Alice Oseman
Expected publication: March 30th 2015 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Goodreads | Amazon | The BookDepo

Everything about this book screamed familiar to me. Not because I've read this before but because I wanted to. I've been waiting for it.

And it was so exciting. From the start I knew I'd love this because the story is set in some charming British school, which is always code for a good time. There's also Victoria Spring, who was an amazing main character. What really set her apart is how troubled she was, yet it was so realistically portrayed, just like you would see it in real life, very subtle, very quietly destructive. To see her struggle was both heartbreaking and eye-opening.

And if our main girl is not your typical YA heroine, our main guy couldn't be cookie-cutter either. There's Michael Holden, who is probably one of the most memorable characters I've ever read. So happy and eccentric on the outside, so broken on the inside. I loved Michael with all my might and my heart suffered for him so much. He was a bright side and a dark side, and I cannot imagine how any story could survive without someone like him.

The whole game of Solitaire was a very cool part too. I really enjoyed creating my theories and trying to figure out the reasoning behind it all. And although it kind of should be the main focus of the story, the thing I liked the most was getting to know the characters, the interactions between them all, and the family dynamics. I wish I could hug everyone. Victoria's friends, her brother, her brother's boyfriend, they all were a great example of how to make the reader care.

I can say enough good things about the story but it will take me a long time so I'll save you the trouble. Just give this one a chance.

Review: My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp

Title: My Best Everything 
Author: Sarah Tomp
Young Adult Contemporary
Published March 3rd 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository
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Unexpected. Brilliant. There are quite a few adjectives that come to mind after reading 'My Best Everything' but I don't plan on writing them all and use all my space. Instead I want to tell you how amazing this story will make you feel.

Lulu's idea of selling moonshine to furnish her way to college. She is a smart girl in a small town; we've seen it before, right? Not like this. Never like this. Because Lulu is about to find out she is smart, but not in the way she always thought.

So she enlists the help of her best friend Roni and her boyfriend Bucky, who she has known all her life, and of course the mysterious, older bad boy Mason. And it all goes downhill from here (or uphill, depending on how you see it) because you can't predict the future, just like you can't predict if moonshine is going to turn out to be poison. It's a ride.

I loved this book. So much heart, so poetic and emotional. But funny and charming, too. A thrill ride.

I can't tell you enough good things about this book. Suddenly I couldn't handle all the feels and I was back to that place I love about YA. If I were you I wouldn't worry of where I am going right now, as long as I have this book with me.

Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Title: Crash Into You
Author: Katie McGarry
Publication: November 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads | Amazon

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I know I haven’t been the most forgiving reviewer on this book’s past sister novels. But nevertheless, I find it really sad that the series is ending and that this might be the last we see of these characters. However, I loved that Crash Into You was the book chosen to wrap things up because to me it was the best of the series.

Seriously, as I read along, I found it hard not to invest myself in the story. Isaiah might not have had my attention back in Pushing The Limits or Dare You To but he completely won me over when telling his story. He’s got a tough exterior and might seem scary or threatening but he is one sweet boy on the inside. I liked that he was loyal and strong and at the same time really vulnerable too.

Then we had Rachel, who suffers panic attacks and I don’t know if it is because I’m currently taking Psychiatry or because I’m naturally so empathetic (and apparently, humble too) but my heart immediately warmed for her story. I can see why she developed her disorder and I was seriously mad at her family for treating her that way.

But then, Rachel also pissed me off sometimes. Like, why couldn’t she figure out a way to get the money? Why did she have to let poor Isaiah carry the entire burden even though he practically lives in the streets and has nothing?! And then she goes questioning his love for her. However, I ended up giving her a pass ‘cause she isn’t the most reliable mind in the ward so to speak.

But then Isaiah was wonderful and it lightened up the whole book for me. He is strong-minded and loyal and caring even though he grew up being the “weakest” link in the chain. But now he’s out there making the world a faster place and my heart thanks him for that. That’s the magic you guys, that even though tattoos, shaved heads and earrings on guys don’t do it for me, Katie McGarry made me fall for one guy that features all those three.

Sincerely, I can say that of all the books in the series, this is the one that did it for me more tan the others, but I still would recommend the whole series.

 

Review: The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

Title: The Spectacular Now
Author: Tim Tharp
Published October 20th 2008 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Goodreads | Amazon
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When I finished this book I was like: sure my copy is missing some pages, I mean, there's no way it ends like this...

But it does. It ends like that, because life is inexplicable and abrupt and stories don't finish for the young. Or maybe they do, but we never get the whole story so I accept it. I accept the end, but I don't accept not having a clue about where Sutter ends.

I loved Sutter, he made the book for me. He's like a naughtier version of Ferris Bueller, too well-liked for his own good. He's funny and charming and fun, and he cracked me up. Yet I still felt like I couldn't figure him out most of the time. And mostly because I don't think he has even figure out himself. The teenage is just one abyss no one can explain for sure.

And then we have all these secondary characters who, to be really honest, rocked. I liked them because they felt real and not someone's idea of how teenagers are supposed to be. I felt like they could have been any of my friends. And I liked that they were more than just one dimension in the Sutter universe, especially Aimee and Cassidy, Marcus and Ricky. 

My biggest complain, though, is that I don't really see much point to the story. Sure, Sutter grew up and is on his way to become a fine young man, but still. What about Aimee? I seriously doubt she learn anything but how to be jealous and claim ownership on people.

However, I really had a great time reading and am waiting anxiously for the movie version, I might end up liking it more since I'm a sucker for love stories (like the movie seems to be) and the book wasn't romantic AT ALL. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the link to the movie trailer, which looks amazeballs:

 

 

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