#scandal by Sarah Ockler | Book Review

#scandal by Sarah Ockler
US Release Date: June 17th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Source: PulseIt
Ebook, 416 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love..

Summary from Goodreads

Lucy Vacarro never planned to go to prom, but when Eliana, her best friend, asks her to take her place because she’s sick and she can’t go, Lucy can’t refuse. Rather than slaying zombies all night, she goes to Lavender Oaks’ prom at the arm of Ellie’s boyfriend Cole. But Lucy has been in love with Cole since the first time they met three years ago and when he invites her to the after-prom party, she knows it only means disaster. The next day, a picture of them kissing with a bunch of other embarrassing pictures of the other guests are posted on her Facebook wall with her stolen phone, framing her as the perpetrator. The whole school is after her, but Lucy has a plan: finding who did it, reveal the truth, have her life back and her best friend back.

#scandal was good. Not extraordinary, but good. I enjoyed some aspects of it like how the book dealt with bullying and the writing, but a lot of things were missing to make me care. I didn’t really care for the characters, for the romance or the mysteries.

First, the characters. They were plain. Lucy, Ellie, Cole, Griffin, Franklin. I felt bad for Lucy, but nothing more. The principal was not believable and she didn’t do anything to help Lucy and actually stop the bullying. I can’t believe not a teacher heard students call Lucy a slut and a narc in the corridors or saw the pamphlets. At least, some cool students stood up to her like the (e)Pic kids. I liked Ellie because even though she was betrayed by her friends, she felt bad for Lucy and tried to stop some students from harassing her. Some people would only think of revenge or that she deserved it, but not her in spite of everything that had happened. She’s a good person with a big heart. She was the most likeable character. Nothing to say about Griffin, she was funny at the beginning, but I kind of hate her now. Lavender Oaks students were just infuriating. Two weeks of so much drama for not so much really. I don’t know why they were so mad at Lucy, it was just funny pictures of drunk people posted on Facebook. If they didn’t want pictures to show up on the internet, they just had to not act stupid and drunk. It’s not like they didn’t do these things. Olivia made me glad I’m not in high school anymore!

Lucy and Cole’s relationship didn’t interest me at all. Maybe it can be explained by the fact that we don’t see them fall in love, we are just told that Lucy has been in love with him since the first time she met him so we don’t get a chance to fall in love with him ourselves? Or that there’s almost no romance during the book, but some bits here and there so how are we suppose to care about them when we don’t even see them loving each other? Cole is caring but was barely in the book, the end is cute, but nothing more.

I didn’t care for the mysteries either. There are two big mysteries : finding who stole Lucy’s phone and posted the pictures on her Facebook and who is Miss Demeanour, the Facebook page that made me think of Gossip Girl. I was a little bit surprise of who stole Lucy’s phone because I just couldn’t see a good motive for this character. The motive was childish. Almost destroy someone’s life and reputation just because of that? I can’t say more without having a full paragraph under spoiler, but yeah… I guess people bully for less than that, but it felt ridiculous to me in this book.

The bullying/cyberbullying part was really painful. Even more painful when nobody was really doing something about it. I’m not sure if I liked how it was handled, but I liked the topic. I loved Sarah Ockler‘s writing and the pop culture references of Veronica Mars, The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games.

Overall, a good read. I don’t know if I recommend it. I actually enjoy reading it, it was a fast and entertaining read even though everything I said, but that’s it. Like I said, nothing extraordinary.

Writing   1   2   3   4   5  |
World Building   1   2   3   4   5   |
Plot   1   2   3   4    5   |
Characters   0   1   2   3    4    5 |
Romance    1   2   3   4  5

First Line

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a picture tagged on Miss Demeanor’s Scandal of the Month page is worth about a million.”

Favorite Quotes

Beneath his touch, my heart flops like a beached fish, and I turn my face away from his gaze.”

Author’s Info:

Sarah Ockler is the bestselling author of #scandal, The Book of Broken Hearts, Bittersweet, Fixing Delilah, and Twenty Boy Summer. Her books have received numerous accolades, including ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, Girls’ Life Top 100 Must Reads, Indie Next List, and nominations for YALSA Teens’ Top Ten, and NPR’s Top 100 Teen Books. She lives in Washington with her husband, Alex. From Simon & Schuster.

For more info on Veronica Roth, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

Yolo by Sam Jones | Book Review

Yolo by Sam Jones
US Release Date: June 3rd 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Source: PulseIt
Ebook, 320 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

One day. One party. One motto: you only live once. In the tradition of wtf and fml, a crazy story of three friends and a road trip gone wrong right.

Emily and her best friends, Ana and Brandon, know it should only take half a day to get to the mountains, where the Stein twins are hosting a massive Spring Break party at their parents’ mansion. The road trip should be a breeze; the driving itinerary even includes several stops along the way, the first being a bite to eat at a real, classic roadside diner.

And that’s where everything falls apart.

Throw in a couple of criminals, an accidental thief, and a miniature drug lord, and suddenly the half-day trip is gonna take a little longer. Add a Chihuahua, some crazy grandparents, and a hot pool-hall boy named Chris…and maybe the journey to the party will end up being better than the party itself…

Summary from Goodreads

It’s Spring Break and Jacob and Madison Stein are hosting a gigantic party at their house in the mountains, a half day drive. Emily O’Brien is looking forward to this party because the twins sure know how to throw one and she can’t wait to have fun and loosen up after all the stress from school. But her best friends Ana and Brandon broke up not long ago and they’re not talking to each other anymore. Emily thought that their bickering would be the hardest part of their road trip, but when they make a stop to a classic roadside diner along the way and get caught in the middle of a robbery, their journey takes a crazy turn.

Crazy is definitely a good choice of word because this book is totally crazy. In a very bad way. It’s one crazy and unrealistic scene after another. One bad decision after another. One wtf reaction after another like:

When she realized that she was standing on the seat, a few other things also became clear to her:
1. She was holding a handgun.
2. She and her friends could very well die if she didn’t do something right now.
3. If they were all dead, there would be no way to get to the party.”

I know that while in high school, parties could be a big deal like many things when you’re a teenager, but wtf… You’re in a robbery and you could very well die and all you can think of is your stupid party?

It takes more than one idiot to mess up a road trip this badly.”

Ana said that quote at one point and she couldn’t be more right. The three main characters were so stupid, it was ridiculous. I think this explains why I didn’t like this book. The plot could have been good, but the dumb characters ruined it for me. The beginning was in fact really promising. You have Emily, always on schedule and a little bit up-tight, Ana, the beautiful Latina party girl and Brandon, the funny one. But at some point, they just started acting so stupid. Not one decision was the slightest bit smart. Nothing made sense and Emily, the only one with some brain, was so easily influence by her friends. I don’t understand how someone with a minimum of judgement could think that everything will be ok if you help criminals or things like that. And the characters couldn’t even stick to their roles… Suddenly in the middle of the book, we see Emily starting to act all YOLO and Brandon becoming the responsible one. It was so weird.

I know this book was probably supposed to be silly and not something serious, but it didn’t work at all for me and I almost gave up 3 times, the only thing that made me finish it was to see how it would end. I don’t recommend this book. The end was disappointing, the characters were annoying and the overuse of the acronym YOLO was irritating. The only interesting character was Chris and he was only introduced at the end.

Writing   1    2    3   4   5  |
World Building   1    2   3  4   5   |
Plot    1    2   3   4    5   |
Characters    0    1    2    3    4   5 |
Romance     1    2    3   4  5

First Line

Emily O’Brien slipped behind the steering wheel of the late-model SUV her father had given her last year for her sixteenth birthday and turned the key in the ignition.”

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin | Mini Book Review

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
US Release Date: August 6th 1996
Publisher: Bantam
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #1
Source: Purchased
Paperback, 835 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Summary from Goodreads

What I liked

• Multiple point of views. Each chapter is told from one of the eight different characters narrating the story: Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, his wife Lady Catelyn, his son Bran and his bastard son Jon Snow, member of the Night’s Watch, his daughters Sansa and Arya, the dwarf Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen, exiled to the land beyond the narrow sea and last of the line of the dragon kings. Some point of views were more interesting than others, but I didn’t find myself wanting to skip a chapter because of the character either. My favourite would be Daenerys Targaryen. Tyrion Lannister is not far, he was really funny.
• The plot. Set in the fictional world of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, when Eddard Stark is asked to serve as the Hand of the King for King Robert Baratheon, he’s thrown right in the middle of the war between the realm’s noble families for the Iron Throne while across the narrow sea, the last members of the previous ruling dynasty will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. At the same time in the North, winter is coming. There are so many intrigues, complex political intrigues! I want to know what’s going to happen next!
• The world-building.

What I didn’t liked

• There are so many characters in this book that it can become really really complicated even with the appendix listing all the houses and the characters. I highly recommend watching the TV show before reading the book, it makes everything so much easier. At least, it did for me.
• At times, when nothing was really happening, the story could be really slow. Being 800+ pages, it was a long read and kind of discouraging, especially in slower parts where I couldn’t see the end of it.

I have to be honest, it took me forever to read A Game of Thrones. According to Goodreads, I started this book June 19 2014…  but maybe it can be explained by the fact that I don’t read a lot of epic fantasy and I don’t often read books with more than 800 pages. Overall, I found it to be a good story and because I ADORE the TV show I will definitely read the next ones to see what happens next. Warnings: lots of sex/nude and swearing!

Writing   1    2    3    4    5  |
World Building   1    2    3   4  5   |
Plot    1    2    3    4    5   |
Characters    1    2    3    4    5 |
Romance   1    2    3    4    5   |

First Line

We should start back,” Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them.”

A Song of Ice and Fire Series

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) [no review]
A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) [no review]
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) [no review]
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) [no review]
The Winds of Winter (A Song of Ice and Fire #6) [no review]
A Dream of Spring (A Song of Ice and Fire #7) [no review]
Untitled (A Song of Ice and Fire #8) [no review]

Author’s Info:
George R. R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire—A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, Martin has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From the publisher.

For more info on George R.R. Martin, visit his sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian | Book Review

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
US Release Date: August 13th 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: Burn for Burn #2
Source: PulseIt
Ebook, 528 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn’t exactly go the way they’d hoped at the Homecoming Dance.

Not even close.

For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before.

And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn.

It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn…

Summary from Goodreads

In Burn for Burn, the Homecoming Dance didn’t go as perfect as Lillia, Kat and Mary planned. At all. Reeve ended up in the hospital with a broken leg and his future as a football superstar crushed. Mary is sure she had something to do with what happened at the dance. Despite the guilt, things can go back to normal now that they had their revenge and got away with it. The trio even seems to want to stay friends.

But they soon find out that despite everything, Reeve is still the old Reeve. He doesn’t regret what he did to Mary years ago. He couldn’t even apologize when he had the chance. And for that, the girls think they need an other revenge, something he will never forget. The perfect opportunity presents itself and it’s for Lillia to take one for the team. She will seduces him than dump him with a broken heart. Same thing he did to Mary. A broken heart for a broken heart. It’s the perfect plan. It made me think of a movie that came out a couple of years ago John Tucker Must Die. It was a good movie even though it was predictable and it was the same for this book. It was obvious how this would end, but I absolutely love to read about their relationship and how it developed from hate to love. It was subtle at first, but it became something really cute and romantic. We learn more about Reeve who was only portrayed like this arrogant prick until now. I wish I had my own Reeve.

Lillian’s chapters were my favourite. The romance was well written. I found that Kat had not much going on in this book, the main plot was more about the two other girls. Even so, we learn a lot about her, she opens up bit by bit and I loved what I learned about this character. The three girls have such distinct voices and their friendship feel so genuine.

While I found the paranormal aspect introduced in the first book to be weird and a little bit (even a lot) unnecessary in my opinion, it made perfect sense at the end of Fire with Fire. I even thought it was brilliant from Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. I wasn’t expecting this and it promises to be a darker last tome. For Mary, it’s not an insignificant high school revenge anymore. He will get what he really deserves this time.

Writing   1    2    3    4    5  |
World Building   1    2    3   4   5   |
Plot    1    2    3    4    5   |
Characters    1    2    3    4    5   |
Romance     1    2    3   4   5

First Line

I couldn’t decide what to wear.”

Burn for Burn Series

Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) [no review]
Fire with Fire (Burn for Burn #2)
Ashes to Ashes (Burn for Burn #3) [no review]

Author’s Info:
Jenny Han was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and she went on to graduate school at the New School in New York City, where she received her MFA in Writing for Children. She lives in Brooklyn. From the author’s website.

For more info on Jenny Han, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Siobhan Vivian was born in New York City on January 12, 1979. Siobhan attended The University of the Arts, where she graduated with a degree in Writing for Film and Television. She received her MFA in Creative Writing: Children’s Literature from The New School University. She has worked as an editor of several New York Times best-selling novels at Alloy Entertainment, a scriptwriter for The Disney Channel, and she currently teaches Writing Youth Literature at the University of Pittsburgh. From the author’s website.

For more info on Siobhan Vivian, visit her sites:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson | Book Review

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
US Release Date: May 4th 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: Standalone
Source: PulseIt
Ebook, 352 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it’s Amy’s responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn’t ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip – and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar – especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory – but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

Summary from Goodreads

She always assumed her life would pretty much stay the same. But when her father dies in a car crash, her twin brother is sent to rehab and her mother decides to leave to go to Connecticut for “a fresh start”, everything changes. Amy Curry, who was left behind in California to finish her junior year, isn’t really happy about having to take the family car all the way to their new home in Connecticut. And it’s not the worst, she has to do it with a stranger. Roger, a college kid and an old family friend, has to go to Philadelphia to spend the summer with his father. Although Amy’s mother has the trip very carefully planned, they each have an agenda of their own and they can’t help but make some detours along the way.

In the beginning, you don’t really know what really happened to Amy’s father. We get bits of her life before with some chapters taking place in the past until we finally learn what happened that day her father died. We see how her father was and why she wants to go to some places like Yosemite or Graceland. I loved her father, he was such a great father! The characters definitely made the book for me. From Amy to Roger to the secondary characters, I loved them all. Each and every one made Amy and Roger’s road trip even more enjoyable. They were all so friendly, refreshing and likeable.

The romance was well done. They didn’t fall for each other right at the beginning. They help each other move on. But for me, this book is more about Amy’s emotional journey and finally coming to term with what happened to her family than the romance. Written like a scrapbook, the receipts, photos, playlists and fun notes about each state they visit added some unique touch to the book. Even though we are not given a concrete ending and it’s kind of weird because I thought for a minute that my book was missing pages … But no, it was not missing any pages. The author leaves things on a hopeful note and you can very well imagine what happened after.

This lovely, cute contemporary novel about grief and friendships is perfect when you need a fun and easy read, but dealing with not so easy subjects. It definitely made me want to go on a road trip!

Writing   1    2    3    4    5  |
World Building   1    2    3    4    5   |
Plot    1    2    3    4    5   |
Characters    1    2    3    4    5   |
Romance     1    2    3    4    5 |

 

First Line

I sat on the front steps of my house and watched the beige Subaru station wagon swing too quickly around the cul-the-sac.”

Author’s Info:
Morgan Matson was born in 1981 and grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children’s department of Vroman’s Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan’s three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW “Flying Start” book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize. 

She lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2016. From the author’s website.

For more info on Morgan Matson, visit her sites:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’  or goodreads.

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann | Book Review

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann
US Release Date: February 8th 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Source: Purchased
Hardcover, 233 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer’s Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she’s not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world’s sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer’s Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn’t get close to… the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she’s always loved, Kendall keeps up the search–and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can’t stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried…

Summary from Goodreads

Kendall Fletcher is in senior year in the small town of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (212 citizens) and has OCD. It is the kind of town where everybody knows everybody and nothing ever happens. But when Tiffany Quinn, a 15 year-old girl, goes missing, the town is shaken. Her body is never found. Thenm Nico Cruz, Kendall’s best friend since they were born, also goes missing. When Kendall notices that the two missing persons used the same desk and starts hearing Nico’s voice whispering in her ears, she is engrossed in some horrible local history. Something terrible happened in Cryer’s Cross a long time ago and it wants vengeance.

I’ll start by saying that this book wasn’t what I expected it to be about, but it’s not in a negative way. I didn’t expect it to be about a paranormal force, but I loved it because it made the book more scary.  I read it in the afternoon under a bright sun so I wasn’t really in the best mood for this kind of read, but I can perfectly picture myself a little scared if I read it at night and alone. While it promises a mystery, it was more a romance, but a good romance! I loved the relationship between Kendall and the new bad boy in town Jacián, it was refreshing and sweet.

The characters are what I enjoyed most about this book. I liked them all and Lisa McMann made me care about them. Marlena was a great friend and Jacián was hot. Kendall was likeable and I loved how the author described her OCD, you could tell she asked her daughter who also has OCD to describe it to her for her book and it was so much more realistic. Well, most of the time.

I was a little bit disappointed with the end. The explanation and the story behind the voices were a little rushed and didn’t have the impact I wish they had. It was a little bit weird too. I didn’t really understand the motive behind it, why would they want to kill kids after what we learn?

Overall, it was a good and entertaining read. The writing is clear and it’s easy to follow. I also love the cover. I didn’t understand it at first, but now I do and it’s perfect. If you’re looking for a thrilling and a little bit creepy story that never gets boring with a cute romance, give it a try!

First Line

Everything changes when Tiffany Quinn disappears.”

Book Trailer

Author’s Info:
Lisa McMann is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy, Cryer’s Cross, Dead to You, the Visions series, and the middle grade dystopian fantasy series The Unwanteds. She lives with her family in the Phoenix area. From Simon & Schuster.

For more info on Lisa McMann, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’  or goodreads.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth | Book Review

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
US Release Date: October 22nd 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Divergent #3
Source: Purchased
Hardcover, 526 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Summary from Goodreads

In a dystopian Chicago, the city is now divided into five factions, each one representing a quality believed to eradicate evil : Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful) and Erudite (the intelligent), each contributing to a different sector of society, but this society is shattered after the shocking revelation at the end of Insurgent: there is a whole world outside the fence. Divided once again between the new government who doesn’t want anything to do with the outside and factions and a new group of people that call themselves the Allegiant who wants to see what is outside and doesn’t believe abolishing factions gave them freedom, Tris and Tobias must find a way to go explore this new world and maybe, start a new life far from all that happened in Chicago. But what they discover is that the outside world is as shattered and imperfect as theirs.

My review should be 3 hearts and a half. In this book, Veronica Roth decided to give a voice to Tobias. We still have the story from Tris’ point of view, but also Tobias’. And I hated it. They sounded exactly the same. I stated at the end of my review of Insurgent that I hoped the Four from Divergent, the one who would never let his fears control him, would be back in the last book and my prayers were not answered. At all. His reactions and the choices he made frustrated me so much, it’s like he never learned from his mistakes. He failed at making rational decisions. Boy you need to start listening to your girlfriend… Or you know, stop hiding things from her and start involving her in your decisions…

Like Divergent and Insurgent, there was a lot of action, twists and revelations. I loved learning about the outside world at the same time as the character, how it works and the problems they face. The suicidal and mopey Tris is a thing of the past, the strong and bad-ass Tris is back. There is also a lot of sexual tension between Tris and Tobias in this one. Lot of make out between them!

Let’s talk about the end. I am from the team that mostly loved it. Yes, we love when a story ends with a happy ending where every character get what they dream, but in a story like this where so many terrible things happens, it is not realistic and I prefer a realistic ending even if it’s sad. I found myself not caring as much for the characters as in the first book so I didn’t cry when some characters died (one in particular) and I was disappointed about it, I wished the author have been able to create something very emotional, but it was not. One character is going through a lot and I had a harder time reading about it though. I loved the epilogue and the new friendship between Tobias and Christina. Christina became one of my favorite characters through the third book.

The conclusion to the Divergent series by Veronica Roth was a great ending to an entertaining, thrilling and action-packed trilogy. The first book is brilliant and while the other ones are not as great, I enjoyed them. I’m a little bit sad that this has to end, but at least there’s the movies. This series is definitely a must-read.

First Line

I pace in our cell in Erudite headquarters, her words echoing in my mind: My name will be Edith Prior, and there is much I am happy to forget.”

Favorite Quotes

Sometimes all I want is to be a few inches taller so the world does not look like a dense collection of torsos.”

Book Trailer

Divergent Series

The Transfer: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.1) [no review]
The Initiate: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.2) [no review]
The Son: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.3) [no review]
The Traitor: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.4) [no review]
Divergent (Divergent #1) [my review]
Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story (Divergent #1.5) [no review]
Insurgent (Divergent #2) [my review]
Allegiant (Divergent#3)

Author’s Info:

Veronica Roth is a twenty-two-year-old debut author and a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s creative writing program. While a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. Now a full-time writer, she lives near Chicago. From HarperCollins.

For more info on Veronica Roth, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth | Book Review

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
US Release Date: May 1st 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Series: Divergent #2
Source: Purchased
Hardcover, 525 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Summary from Goodreads

The book starts right where we left off in Divergent. Tris and Four, with the other characters in their group at the end of book 2, are heading to Amity where they hope to find help after what happened in the districts with Jeannine and the Dauntless, but what they find is mostly disappointment has Amity decides that the better way to prevent conflict is to stay out of it. They must seek help in another place and where they find it is rather surprising. But not everybody seems to have the same motives. Tris also hears about a secret that could change everything, a secret a lot of people died to keep it including her parents.

Even though I gave it four stars, I was a little bit disappointed because Divergent was pretty much my favorite read of the year and Insurgent wasn’t as good. I think it’s because the romance took way too much space, but I loved that Veronica Roth decided to explore the relationship between them more than to do a love triangle. We saw a very realistic relationship where not everything is always beautiful. While the first book was fast-paced and full of action, fights and danger, the second book was the opposite for me. There wasn’t a lot going on and I found myself a little bored at time, it was only about the drama between Tris and Four. But that was before the end where everything that I liked about the first book was back. I couldn’t put the book down until the last sentence. Oh and what happened with Four? I loved Four so much in Divergent, but I didn’t like how he acted in this one and I can’t even explain why he became like that. I hope the Four I loved will be back in the last book because I’m so ready for Allegiant with what we learn in the end (thanks to Tris, the only one who wanted to learn the truth and did something about it…)!

First Line

I wake with his name in my mouth.”

Book Trailer

Divergent Series

The Transfer: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.1) [no review]
The Initiate: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.2) [no review]
The Son: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.3) [no review]
The Traitor: A Divergent Story (Divergent #0.4) [no review]
Divergent (Divergent #1) [my review]
Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story (Divergent #1.5) [no review]
Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Allegiant (Divergent#3) [my review]

Author’s Info:

Veronica Roth is a twenty-two-year-old debut author and a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s creative writing program. While a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. Now a full-time writer, she lives near Chicago. From HarperCollins.

For more info on Veronica Roth, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

Jane by April Lindner | Book Review

Jane by April Lindner
US Release Date: October 11th 2010
Publisher: Poppy
Series: Standalone
Source: Purchased
Hardcover, 373 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there’s a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane’s much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

Summary from Goodreads

After her parents’ death in a car accident, Jane Moore, a very pragmatic and down-to-earth young woman, is hired as a nanny. She never thought she would end up like this as she was studying at Sarah Lawrence, a prestigious school, but she was forced to drop out when she doesn’t get any money from her parents to pay for her tuition after their death. With little qualifications for the job, she doesn’t expect to get one, but her disinterest of celebrities, gossips and magazines are what the agency is looking for for a very particular job. She moves at Thornfield Park where she has to take care of Madeline, the five years old daughter of Nico Rathburn, a rockstar not only famous for his music, but also for the wild and party life he used to live.

The love story was fantastic and it is what I enjoyed most about Jane. Jane Moore has never been in a relationship before and she’s shy and not confident about herself at all so when she meets Nico, a handsome guy with a lot of experiences, she can’t believe he would even look at her. I loved reading about her uncertainties because a lot of us go through the same thing when we meet a man and we start falling in love with him. Maybe the relationship was more told than showed because one day they pretty much hate each other and the next they can’t stop thinking about the other one and you can’t seem to find where their feelings changed, but I enjoyed all their scenes together and their romance was really charming.

Some things felt unrealistic though. April Lindner made the choice to keep many elements of the original story in her retelling. It may have worked in the 19th century because a lot of things like divorce or mental health was not accepted and discussed, but it just felt ridiculous and unbelievable in the 21th century to keep these elements. Who would keep his crazy wife in the attic today? Only a psychopath…

I can’t compare Jane with Charlotte Brontë’s classic because I didn’t read it (yes I know oops!), but I saw the movie so I know a little bit about the story and I felt it was a great retelling of the classic in a modern setting. I didn’t want the book to end and I was sad when it did because it was an entertaining read. This is not an absolutely-must-read book, but if you already have it on your shelves or something like that, it’s not an awful read at all so pick it up and read it!

First Line

The chairs in the lobby of Discriminating Nannies, Inc., were less comfortable than they looked.”

Book Trailer

Author’s Info:
April Lindner is an associate professor of English at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Her poetry collection, Skin, received the Walt McDonald First Book Prize and her poems have been featured in many anthologies and textbooks. From Little, Brown Books Group.

For more info on April Lindner, visit her sites:
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff | Mini Book Review

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
US Release Date: September 1st 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Series: Standalone
Source: Purchased
Paperback, 352 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Summary from Goodreads

Mackie Doyle is a replacement, a changeling. Creatures live under the small town of Gentry and they left him in a crib when he was a baby while they kidnapped the real Malcolm Doyle. It is not the first time. Replacements rarely survive, but he does. His family knows who he really is, but he needs to keep the town from finding out his secret. It is not easy as blood, steel or anything made of iron makes him sick and weak, but he tries to live a normal teenage life.

I didn’t like this book at all. I finally read it after thinking at least twice to quit. I don’t know what I was expecting this book to be, but it was definitely not for me. That doesn’t mean it was awful and many did like this book, so maybe this is for you, but it didn’t work for me. I didn’t care for the characters or the plot, I found it extremely slow. The romance, if it can be called a romance, was kind of awkward and weird. But I enjoyed Mayhem and the creatures living underground. They were perfectly ugly and horrible.

First Line

I don’t remember any of the true, important parts, but there’s this dream I have.”

Book Trailer

Author’s Info:
Brenna Yovanoff is one third of the Merry Sisters of Fate along with Maggie Stiefvater and Tessa Gratton, whose flash fiction can be found at www.merryfates.com. She lives in Denver, Colorado. The Replacement is her first novel. From Penguin.

For more info on Brenna Yovanoff, visit her sites:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find me on twitter  feedburner bloglovin’ or goodreads.