Review: Someone Else's Summer by Rachel Bateman

Title: Someone Else's Summer
Author: Rachel Bateman
Publication Date: May 9th, 2017
Goodreads | Amazon
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I liked the premise of Someone Else’s Summer: girl sets off to do her dead sister’s bucket summer list and enlists the help of her sister’s best male friend. At first I thought the premise was simple and straight-forward and I was in the mood for some of that.

But then, things not always turn out how you expect them and the book had more layers than I initially thought. Now I am not a fan of books where they spend all the time reminiscing about a dead character I never met. That was one of my problems with this one too. Like how all the time Anna and Cameron would be: “You know how Storm was!” and I would be: No, I don’t know, move on please. But that’s just the natural progression of grieve, so I let it slide. Even though I just was told that Storm was great and I never got to see why.

Also everyone else, from the parents to the aunt to Anna’s best friend and her friend with benefits, everyone was supposed to be great and awesome. But I just couldn’t tell, none of them well developed enough for me to even glimpse their greatness.

What I really couldn’t let slide, though, was the lack of personality from both Anna and Cameron (and honestly, every character in the book). I felt like everything they ever did was defined by Storm, and I couldn’t really tell who either of them were. They also had strange mood swings that I could attribute to grief to, but that be cutting a lot of slack. For example, they’d be mad at each other in one scene, and then I would wait for the next scene to explain why they were mad but instead it was all “I got over my anger, I’m fine now.” I mean, seriously! Whatever.

However, I did think their road trip was fun. I liked to witness their adventures and felt like overall that part was entertaining enough to make the book worthwhile. And the plot twist by the end gave the story a new depth that made it better. But unfortunately, not much better for me. It had a lot of potential to be great but sadly, I think it fell flat. Though it might be great for some, so give it a try for yourself, it's a quick, light read.

Review: Lucky Girl by Amanda Maciel

Title: Lucky Girl 

Author: Amanda Maciel

Expected publication: April 25th 2017 by Balzer & Bray

GOODREADS |

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You know I hate trashing books. That's just not classy. But I also hate not being honest. So I am going to take the easy way out:

This book was not for me.

I guess I just thought this book was going to be something entirely different. Somehow I pictured a story about redemption. You know, because the main character is supposed to be this super gorgeous girl, so I thought, I don't know, that the book would focus on agreeing why looks are meaningless.

But no. I basically had to sit through ten thousand paragraphs that were a variation of "I'm so gorgeous", "Everyone stares at me because I'm so gorgeous", "I wish everyone would stop reminding me how gorgeous I am". And I'm not even kidding. I was like, I got it the first time you said it can we move on?

But we hardly moved on so I basically endured the journey of "accepting that I am such a beauty" and then finding a boyfriend who doesn't care I am the prettiest.

And I thought, there has to be someone good in this book, some character has to be a little less shallow. But everyone, every single character at some point (mostly all the time) talks about the main character's beauty/gorgeousness. And I would have (maybe) forgiven it, if they weren't all so clueless and disappointing. None of them felt like characters at all, more like story fillers.

The only redeeming quality I found was the part about *SPOILER ALERT* the assault. The main character is assaulted and she goes through the very hard to read about but also very real process of realizing that, yes you were assaulted, and no, it wasn't your fault.

But honestly, this book was not for me. I wish I hadn't read it, if only for saving me the embarrassment of having to write a bad review. It's nothing personal, I'm sorry.

And lastly, I just want to say, don't let anyone else's opinion stop you from reading something if you are really interested in it. That's all. Peace.

Review: Fireworks by Katie Cotugno

Title: Fireworks 
Author: Katie Cotugno
Expected publication: April 18th 2017 
by HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray
GOODREADS / AMAZON 
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I have a love/hate relationship with Katie Cotugno. I love her books but I hate that I do. I hate it because she writes about everything I hate, like love triangles or siblings fighting or best friends falling out and all that stuff that makes me sad.

I don't like that I enjoy everything she writes even though her stories tear me apart. But I keep coming, like a dumb moth to a flame.

I grabbed an ARC of Fireworks as soon as I saw it, without knowing anything about it. Zero knowledge about the story except that it was written about Cotugno and apparently that was enough.

Now onto business. Honestly, I enjoyed every second of this book. From the fact that it was set in the 90's, to the fact that it was about girl bands and boy bands (that makes it larger than life, you know?) it was all so bloody entertaining.

It's been a while since I have been this invested in a story but from the moment I met Dana Cartwright, the heroine*, I was a goner. I loved the girl to bits, I rooted for her every step of the way. She was so well crafted that she felt like a real, live person who shared the same sentiments of self-doubt and fear that I felt--that everyone feels at eighteen.

But like every time I invest myself on a Katie Cotugno story, I got my heart broken again. Yes, I did. But somehow it's starting to feel less like a painful hole in my chest and more like learning. 

This book was amazing, I swear. I don't even know what I can say (that I haven't already) to make you try it. It has the perfect amount of living the dream and staying grounded, of friends and enemies, of love and heartbreak. I loved every second and I hope you do too.

*Heroine indeed. I would have kicked something in a rage induced madness.

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 End Of Our Story by Meg Haston

Title: The End Of Our Story 
Author: Meg Haston
Expected publication: April 4th 2017 by HarperTeen
GOODREADS | AMAZON
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Disclaimer: Hello friends. I decided that this book is basically this song in story form. So if you want, you can listen to it while reading my review. If you don't want that, please don't do it just because I said so. 

So, as I read the last chapter of The End Of Our Story I have mixed feelings. There isn't a single chapter in the book that didn't depress me. Seriously it was all an avalanche of sadness.

And yet. Yet I kind of liked it.

The writing was very lyrical and the character's background story was my favorite part. You know how I am a sucker for bestfriends turned something more, and this story had plenty of that.

Bridge and Wil had been each other's closest friends for a long time, they were even a couple at some point. But situation after situation have kept them apart for a year. A year where things unraveled into a huge mess.

Bridge and Wil were not perfect. In fact I was annoyed at both of them most of the time. They were flawed but they were real. I wouldn't do the same things they did if I were in their place but I understood where they were coming from. It was easy to, because they felt like very real, very confused teenagers. And who can judge them, honestly? There is not one of us who doesn't regret something they did at seventeen.

That led me to be okay with the story, after everything, I was okay. I accepted it and I actually think I enjoyed it. 

That's why I have no doubts in recommending this book. Give it a try. Especially if you love a different kind of romance, that might or might not be bittersweet. ;)

Review: The Stranger Game by Cylin Busby

Title: The Stranger Game 
Author: Cylin Busby
Expected publication: October 25th 2016 by Balzer + Bray
Goodreads . Amazon
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It’s been quite a while since I last read a thriller, so I was very excited to dive into The Stranger Game. This book is about a girl who disappeared four years ago and when she turns up, there is a bit of strange things going on, which make her sister start to doubt her authenticity.

I liked that the book focused on the sister’s relationship more than anything else. It’s rare nowadays to find a YA book that is not trying to push a romantic interest into the story, but that was not the focus of this story. I liked that.

And actually, I though the book was very interesting and compelling. It took no time for me to invest myself in the mystery of what had happened.

Right away I had my theories, and they proved to be somewhat true. But that’s what bothered me, the “plot twist” was so over the top, so dramatic and unbelievable that I couldn’t help but literally roll my eyes at the pages. That’s why I just *had* to knock a star off the rating. I feel like the story had so much potential, but after the twist is revealed everything turned too ridiculous. 

And the ending felt quite rushed, and wrapped in a little tight bow, too happy for what a story like this should have been, I was not pleased.

But honestly, it was good enough to kept my interest through beginning to end. I can’t complain of the pace or the characters, because it was all very interesting. I certainly would advise you to give it a try, especially if you don’t read thrillers often. It’s a perfect book to start your new favorite genre.

Review: Conspiracy Girl by Sarah Alderson

Title:  Conspiracy Girl 
Author: Sarah Alderson
Published February 12th 2015 by Simon & Schuster
Goodreads .  Amazon
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Why didn’t I know about this book sooner? Was my first thought upon finishing Conspiracy Girl by Sarah Alderson. It was that amazing.

Honestly it was action-packed and the pace was neck-breaking. It even starts right away with a break in, one that happens to be in the bunker-style apartment of Nic, a girl who was the lone survivor of a horrific crime where her mother and stepsister were murdered. And not even in the next chapter we are introduced to the conflict. Now Nic has to trust Finn—the same young computer genius that is responsible her mother’s murderers walked free—to help her figure out who is following her and what do they want. What this ensures is an awkward, uncomfortable but very, very interesting story development.

The mystery/thriller aspect of this book is also awesome, though I did figure out what was happening, in no way did it deter me from reading along excitedly. Mostly because the main characters, Nic and Finn were so likable.

I loved Nic’s confidence and her strong willed nature. She had a horrible family tragedy but she still worked to move on one step at the time. And her relationship with her dog Goz was the cutest.

And then Finn was dreamy too. He is not only a genius but a good-hearted one that wants to make the world better and safer. His relationship with his grandma and his nieces was also so charming and adorable.

What I loved the most about this book was that it is so young-adult feel, but yet is not. What I mean is that it has the essence of the awesomeness that is the YA genre even though the ages of the characters don't match people's assumption of YA, and not to mention there is not a high school in sight. *Claps*

I would recommend the book to everyone honestly, but especially to those who love thrillers, well-crafted and lovable characters, and fast-paced stories. This one is a must re-read for sure!