Richard Casey has terminal cancer. He’s living in hospice, but one thing sets him apart from the other patients there. He’s only seventeen. Somebody Up There Hates You could have turned into the typical heart-breaking tale of a dying boy, but it didn’t. Richard was the comic relief as a main character. He is determined to live every day to the fullest even as his health deteriorates.
Somebody Up There Hates You takes you through Richard losing his virginity, getting drunk for the first time, and growing up in a place where no kid should have to grow up. Richard focuses on falling in love, making memories with his family, and being a normal teenager.
I really enjoyed reading Somebody Up There Hates You. It was heart-warming and yes, sad, but not so sad that I needed to lay in my bed and cry all day. This novel was a great story of overcoming your problems and staying positive even in the worst of situations. Seamon created a very original story out of a topic that has been written about time and time again. I think that shows real talent as a writer.
Somebody Up There Hates You takes you through Richard losing his virginity, getting drunk for the first time, and growing up in a place where no kid should have to grow up. Richard focuses on falling in love, making memories with his family, and being a normal teenager.
I really enjoyed reading Somebody Up There Hates You. It was heart-warming and yes, sad, but not so sad that I needed to lay in my bed and cry all day. This novel was a great story of overcoming your problems and staying positive even in the worst of situations. Seamon created a very original story out of a topic that has been written about time and time again. I think that shows real talent as a writer.
Most of us have felt the incredible pain of loss. Wishing, dreaming, begging for just one more day, hour or minute with our loved one. Mott poses such a scenario in The Returned. Would such a reunion soothe our pain? Assuage our guilt? Curb our loneliness? Or would we just like to keep it all in the past, carefully covered up?
So, one day people start coming back from the dead. Not coming back zombie-style, mind you, they are completely intact and relatively normal. They try to go to work, go home, see their families, all parts of their normal routine, except...they have been dead. Naturally, their family, friends and co-workers faint, scream, cry and generally freak-out upon seeing them.
But, theoretically, this would be amazing, right? You could see your long-lost loved ones again. Sometimes many years after their passing, some just months later. No more moving on, no more sorrow, a wonderful miracle, theoretically...
In reality, it's weird and people feel uneasy around the returned. They just don't know what to make of them or what to believe. In a spiritual sense, this goes against everything anyone has ever known. Are the returned sent by God or the devil? How can you pick right back up again with your loved one when they have been gone for so long or when you have just picked up the pieces and started over? Loss is a part of life and as devastating as it is, we do have the capacity to keep living. What if that were turned upside down?
Practically, the returned present show more another problem. What are we going to do with all of these new people? Some are lucky enough to be reunited with their families, but some have no family or friends left in the world. They are scared and alone. However, towns can't support them, the economy can't support them. We don't have the space or the food supply for everyone who has ever died to come back to Earth.
The already-living face these emotional and practical problems in a variety of ways ranging from acceptance to anger. The governments of the world (and the U.S. in particular) take matters into their own hands to handle the problem of the returned.
The Returned is a breathtaking novel that poses interesting questions. Mott's style reminded me of a poetic Stephen King. One of the things I love about King's writing is his ability to get inside the heads of even his most minor characters in such a way that immerses the reader even further into the story. Jason Mott has this talent as well. The Returned is told from multiple POV's and I felt attached to each of his characters. The arc of The Returned was perfect, with small details being presented in the beginning, then leading to a huge climax and a well wrapped-up ending that leaves you thinking. The Returned will definitely be one of the most talked about books of the year, if not for some time to come. show less
So, one day people start coming back from the dead. Not coming back zombie-style, mind you, they are completely intact and relatively normal. They try to go to work, go home, see their families, all parts of their normal routine, except...they have been dead. Naturally, their family, friends and co-workers faint, scream, cry and generally freak-out upon seeing them.
But, theoretically, this would be amazing, right? You could see your long-lost loved ones again. Sometimes many years after their passing, some just months later. No more moving on, no more sorrow, a wonderful miracle, theoretically...
In reality, it's weird and people feel uneasy around the returned. They just don't know what to make of them or what to believe. In a spiritual sense, this goes against everything anyone has ever known. Are the returned sent by God or the devil? How can you pick right back up again with your loved one when they have been gone for so long or when you have just picked up the pieces and started over? Loss is a part of life and as devastating as it is, we do have the capacity to keep living. What if that were turned upside down?
Practically, the returned present show more another problem. What are we going to do with all of these new people? Some are lucky enough to be reunited with their families, but some have no family or friends left in the world. They are scared and alone. However, towns can't support them, the economy can't support them. We don't have the space or the food supply for everyone who has ever died to come back to Earth.
The already-living face these emotional and practical problems in a variety of ways ranging from acceptance to anger. The governments of the world (and the U.S. in particular) take matters into their own hands to handle the problem of the returned.
The Returned is a breathtaking novel that poses interesting questions. Mott's style reminded me of a poetic Stephen King. One of the things I love about King's writing is his ability to get inside the heads of even his most minor characters in such a way that immerses the reader even further into the story. Jason Mott has this talent as well. The Returned is told from multiple POV's and I felt attached to each of his characters. The arc of The Returned was perfect, with small details being presented in the beginning, then leading to a huge climax and a well wrapped-up ending that leaves you thinking. The Returned will definitely be one of the most talked about books of the year, if not for some time to come. show less
First off, The Bone Season takes commitment. Go ahead and block some time out in your schedule right now to devour this novel. Please don't go in thinking you can just breeze through, skim, speed-read, or any other techniques you might use to quickly finish a book. The Bone Season has maps, glossaries and appendices, people!
In all honesty, I started The Bone Season a couple of times, testing the water (if you will) before I dove right in. I had flashbacks to Mr. George R.R. Martin and a little series you might have heard of called A Song of Ice and Fire. With the memories of my near-obsession still fresh, I knew The Bone Season was destined to be just the same: a book where I would have to pay attention, and think, and learn new things and one that would invade my dreams.
As with A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1), The Bone Season is the first book of an intended series (a seven book series, actually) and as such, has the unique problem of having to familiarize the reader with the world, the characters and the situation quickly. Some may call this an info-dump, but there's really no way around it.
So, we are thrown into the world of Scion, voyants, mime-lords, and dreamwalkers with an alarming alacrity. But, don't let that put you off, Steph's Stackers, you have to put your head down, use your glossary (you'll thank me for that tip later) and go with the flow. Trust is key here, all will be explained and revealed, just go with it.
So, our heroine, Paige, is a show more dreamwalker, a type of voyant that can reach out into other people's mind over fairly long distances. Her talent (and those of many others) is forbidden by law and it's lights out for her if she is busted using it. Will this stop our plucky heroine? Um, no - what would the fun be in that?
Paige, at the start of the novel is working for an underground mob-like organization that uses her talent (and the various skills of others like her) to make friends and influence people in nefarious ways. She and her cohorts are like a gang of Mafioso Mind Control X-Men led by an unscrupulous Charles Xavier.
Mini-spoiler alert! This dysfunctional and magical home away from home doesn't last forever (you knew it wouldn't, right?) and through a slip-up, Paige is shanghaied to a different world that is considerably more dangerous than her previous one.
So, just when you had been studying the map and glossary and you were, like: "Cool, I've totally got this whole thing down." Um, no you don't. The party just starting, friends! We are introduced to a new cast of complex characters (Rephaim and Emin and more, oh my!) and Paige's very life (and the lives of her friends) is at stake at every turn. Drama? Danger? Intrigue? Yep. Yep. Yep.
It is in Paige's time at Oxford (yes, that Oxford, but...not really) that the pace of The Bone Season cranks up from an 7 out of 10 to an 11. Why has she been conscripted to this voyant army? Who is really the enemy? Is she a jerk just for participating? She hates her master on principle, but he seems pretty cool, but that makes her a jerk again, right? Is this all like M. Night Shyamalan's crazy movie, The Village, and the Emin are really just people with sticks making noises in the night?
At this point, the payoff for all of your earlier head-scratching comes in. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn more about Paige's previous life and more about the origin of her abilities. It is here that you can see the promise of the future installments. Many story threads are delicately teased out making you wanting to know more.
I don't want to ruin it for you, but let me just say that plots are hatched, friendships are betrayed, alliances are made and broken, battles (small and large) are fought, kisses are kissed and lessons are learned...in the most amazing way.
The Bone Season has all of the hallmarks of the start to a great series and will be buzzed about for many years to come. show less
In all honesty, I started The Bone Season a couple of times, testing the water (if you will) before I dove right in. I had flashbacks to Mr. George R.R. Martin and a little series you might have heard of called A Song of Ice and Fire. With the memories of my near-obsession still fresh, I knew The Bone Season was destined to be just the same: a book where I would have to pay attention, and think, and learn new things and one that would invade my dreams.
As with A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1), The Bone Season is the first book of an intended series (a seven book series, actually) and as such, has the unique problem of having to familiarize the reader with the world, the characters and the situation quickly. Some may call this an info-dump, but there's really no way around it.
So, we are thrown into the world of Scion, voyants, mime-lords, and dreamwalkers with an alarming alacrity. But, don't let that put you off, Steph's Stackers, you have to put your head down, use your glossary (you'll thank me for that tip later) and go with the flow. Trust is key here, all will be explained and revealed, just go with it.
So, our heroine, Paige, is a show more dreamwalker, a type of voyant that can reach out into other people's mind over fairly long distances. Her talent (and those of many others) is forbidden by law and it's lights out for her if she is busted using it. Will this stop our plucky heroine? Um, no - what would the fun be in that?
Paige, at the start of the novel is working for an underground mob-like organization that uses her talent (and the various skills of others like her) to make friends and influence people in nefarious ways. She and her cohorts are like a gang of Mafioso Mind Control X-Men led by an unscrupulous Charles Xavier.
Mini-spoiler alert! This dysfunctional and magical home away from home doesn't last forever (you knew it wouldn't, right?) and through a slip-up, Paige is shanghaied to a different world that is considerably more dangerous than her previous one.
So, just when you had been studying the map and glossary and you were, like: "Cool, I've totally got this whole thing down." Um, no you don't. The party just starting, friends! We are introduced to a new cast of complex characters (Rephaim and Emin and more, oh my!) and Paige's very life (and the lives of her friends) is at stake at every turn. Drama? Danger? Intrigue? Yep. Yep. Yep.
It is in Paige's time at Oxford (yes, that Oxford, but...not really) that the pace of The Bone Season cranks up from an 7 out of 10 to an 11. Why has she been conscripted to this voyant army? Who is really the enemy? Is she a jerk just for participating? She hates her master on principle, but he seems pretty cool, but that makes her a jerk again, right? Is this all like M. Night Shyamalan's crazy movie, The Village, and the Emin are really just people with sticks making noises in the night?
At this point, the payoff for all of your earlier head-scratching comes in. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn more about Paige's previous life and more about the origin of her abilities. It is here that you can see the promise of the future installments. Many story threads are delicately teased out making you wanting to know more.
I don't want to ruin it for you, but let me just say that plots are hatched, friendships are betrayed, alliances are made and broken, battles (small and large) are fought, kisses are kissed and lessons are learned...in the most amazing way.
The Bone Season has all of the hallmarks of the start to a great series and will be buzzed about for many years to come. show less
Between You and Me was not what I expected going in. I went through a huge chick-lit phase right around Bridget Jones Diary time and still have several shelves of my library dedicated to books targeted toward women and marketed as fun, madcap and easy reads. McLaughlin and Kraus' The Nanny Diaries sits firmly on one of those shelves. So, my mistake upon starting Between You and Me was that I thought I was getting into a lighthearted, breezy read with obvious villains and harried yet heroic protagonists.
Between You and Me is dark, sad and sometimes depressing. This is not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. The majority of the characters are completely terrible and only out for themselves. I don't need to read books that only consist of characters whose morals I share. (I would hate the majority of the characters in The Great Gatsby if I were to meet them IRL, but I love that novel.) It is okay to not identify with fictional characters and still enjoy the tale. Sometimes, I think it is important for us to read books like this.
So, the scoop is, Logan's cousin, Kelsey, is a mega-pop-star (much like Brittany Spears). After a years-long separation, Kelsey asks Logan to come on board as her personal assistant. Thusly, our heroine, Logan is thrust into the seedy, yet glamorous, world of super-stardom.
Kelsey, once a child star, just can't get a break, not from her hectic schedule, or her overbearing parents, the paparazzi, her manager, or ultimately, from herself. Between show more You and Me is a study in the downward spiral of a girl that can't stop moving. Through the Logan's eyes we see circumstances turn ugly for Kelsey time and time again.
Logan is the protagonist of Between You and Me, but this story is all Kelsey's. The two also share a childhood secret, revealed at the end, that makes you feel like they both really never had a chance in the world to have normal relationships with each other or anyone else.
Between You and Me does have a nice epilogue that ties the story up on a happier note, but the overbearing feeling I got from this story is sadness. This book was a page-turning read, if not what I expected and one that will stick with me for some time. show less
Between You and Me is dark, sad and sometimes depressing. This is not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. The majority of the characters are completely terrible and only out for themselves. I don't need to read books that only consist of characters whose morals I share. (I would hate the majority of the characters in The Great Gatsby if I were to meet them IRL, but I love that novel.) It is okay to not identify with fictional characters and still enjoy the tale. Sometimes, I think it is important for us to read books like this.
So, the scoop is, Logan's cousin, Kelsey, is a mega-pop-star (much like Brittany Spears). After a years-long separation, Kelsey asks Logan to come on board as her personal assistant. Thusly, our heroine, Logan is thrust into the seedy, yet glamorous, world of super-stardom.
Kelsey, once a child star, just can't get a break, not from her hectic schedule, or her overbearing parents, the paparazzi, her manager, or ultimately, from herself. Between show more You and Me is a study in the downward spiral of a girl that can't stop moving. Through the Logan's eyes we see circumstances turn ugly for Kelsey time and time again.
Logan is the protagonist of Between You and Me, but this story is all Kelsey's. The two also share a childhood secret, revealed at the end, that makes you feel like they both really never had a chance in the world to have normal relationships with each other or anyone else.
Between You and Me does have a nice epilogue that ties the story up on a happier note, but the overbearing feeling I got from this story is sadness. This book was a page-turning read, if not what I expected and one that will stick with me for some time. show less
The premise of Pivot Point has been compared to one of my favorite movies of all time, Sliding Doors starring Gwenyth Paltrow. The conceit for both is that for some reason (paranormal powers/head injury), the heroine is able to see two different possible future paths for her life after a crossroads and perhaps make choices to achieve one of those outcomes. But, as in real life, there are no 100% prefect endings for anyone (or the choice would be easy and boring, non?). So, although (in both Sliding Doors and Pivot Point) it sounds like a dream scenario to see the future, it can actually turn into a "pick the less tragic future" situation.
Our heroine in Pivot Point, Addie is going through a sadly typical teen life change: her parents are getting divorced and she must choose with whom to live. The typical part of our story ends there because Addie is a Paranormal and her specific ability is to see into the future. After Searching into both possibilities, Addie just might come up with more questions than answers and choosing one path is potentially heartbreaking.
The world Kasie West has built in Pivot Point is such an interesting one: people with paranormal powers have sequestered themselves away from the Norms (me, sadly) and created a life under the radar. The backstory to this entire paranormal business is fascinating. I think her parents are up to more than we or Addie suspect and I'm interested to see where this X-Men-like train is headed.
The romance (we get two!) is show more well played out and I loved the way West had both paths running concurrently parallel (even to the point of people from one path making cameos in the other.) The entire awesomeness of the story is a little tough to explain without spoiling things for you. Just trust me when I say this one is a must read. Pivot Point is unique, compelling, smart and fun. Thanks to Kasie West for creating such an interesting take on paranormal YA. Can't wait for the sequel! show less
Our heroine in Pivot Point, Addie is going through a sadly typical teen life change: her parents are getting divorced and she must choose with whom to live. The typical part of our story ends there because Addie is a Paranormal and her specific ability is to see into the future. After Searching into both possibilities, Addie just might come up with more questions than answers and choosing one path is potentially heartbreaking.
The world Kasie West has built in Pivot Point is such an interesting one: people with paranormal powers have sequestered themselves away from the Norms (me, sadly) and created a life under the radar. The backstory to this entire paranormal business is fascinating. I think her parents are up to more than we or Addie suspect and I'm interested to see where this X-Men-like train is headed.
The romance (we get two!) is show more well played out and I loved the way West had both paths running concurrently parallel (even to the point of people from one path making cameos in the other.) The entire awesomeness of the story is a little tough to explain without spoiling things for you. Just trust me when I say this one is a must read. Pivot Point is unique, compelling, smart and fun. Thanks to Kasie West for creating such an interesting take on paranormal YA. Can't wait for the sequel! show less
In The Girl of Fire and Thorns , Rae Carson delivers a unique vision of a fantasy YA novel. Our heroine, Elisa, starts the novel as your average sometimes awkward/sometimes over-confident teen. She is apparently destined for greatness (via a prophecy and a belly button glowing gem), getting hitched to a Prince she has never met, living in the shadow of her beautiful and all-around fabulously competent sister and is chubby.
In spite of the characteristics that might cause other YA heroines to hide behind their hair (talking to you, Bella and Bella-clones), Elisa is loud and proud. Sure, she has her nervous moments, but overall, she accepts her fate with good grace and humor.
Elisa is unsure about this all of this prophecy noise, but wants to do her best when the time comes. Instead of hiding, crying or trying to run away on her wedding day, she faces it with nervous calm and wants to make her husband happy (I only bring this up to attest to her lack of whiny-ness, not because I think young girls should blindly enter into arranged marriages and live to please the menfolk. Just so you know...). She loves food and is overweight, but instead of being depressed about this, she accepts herself the way she is. She's simply a happy girl. This uniqueness makes her stand out from the pack for me.
I loved the Spanish undertones throughout and found it an interesting departure from UK based fantasy (every Prince has an English accent and is named William, right?). The Girl of Fire and show more Thrones does have a religious undertone, but I didn't find it distracting. The romance was fairly well done and I enjoyed the interactions. But, really, the romance took second place for me compared to Elisa's journey.
Well, you know as well as I do, dear reader, that there would be no novel if Elisa was allowed to just float through life being happy and eating danishes with her hubby, right? So, hi-jinks ensue, things and people are not what they appear to be, someone gets kidnapped and is forced to walk across a desert, secrets are exposed, other points of view are examined, love is won and lost, flirtiness happens, people die and Elisa finds her purpose.
She emerges from the fast paced and highly intriguing tale a changed woman. I loved seeing her transformation and was rooting for her at every turn. I haven't read the sequel yet (The Crown of Embers), but am interested to see where these core changes will lead her. If The Girl of Fire and Thrones was essentially a coming of age show less
In spite of the characteristics that might cause other YA heroines to hide behind their hair (talking to you, Bella and Bella-clones), Elisa is loud and proud. Sure, she has her nervous moments, but overall, she accepts her fate with good grace and humor.
Elisa is unsure about this all of this prophecy noise, but wants to do her best when the time comes. Instead of hiding, crying or trying to run away on her wedding day, she faces it with nervous calm and wants to make her husband happy (I only bring this up to attest to her lack of whiny-ness, not because I think young girls should blindly enter into arranged marriages and live to please the menfolk. Just so you know...). She loves food and is overweight, but instead of being depressed about this, she accepts herself the way she is. She's simply a happy girl. This uniqueness makes her stand out from the pack for me.
I loved the Spanish undertones throughout and found it an interesting departure from UK based fantasy (every Prince has an English accent and is named William, right?). The Girl of Fire and show more Thrones does have a religious undertone, but I didn't find it distracting. The romance was fairly well done and I enjoyed the interactions. But, really, the romance took second place for me compared to Elisa's journey.
Well, you know as well as I do, dear reader, that there would be no novel if Elisa was allowed to just float through life being happy and eating danishes with her hubby, right? So, hi-jinks ensue, things and people are not what they appear to be, someone gets kidnapped and is forced to walk across a desert, secrets are exposed, other points of view are examined, love is won and lost, flirtiness happens, people die and Elisa finds her purpose.
She emerges from the fast paced and highly intriguing tale a changed woman. I loved seeing her transformation and was rooting for her at every turn. I haven't read the sequel yet (The Crown of Embers), but am interested to see where these core changes will lead her. If The Girl of Fire and Thrones was essentially a coming of age show less
When we last left Karou, her family was missing and possibly dead, she had learned many secrets about herself and those around her and was potentially mortal enemies with the angel she loved. It is in this desolate state that we find Karou again in Days of Blood and Starlight.
I hesitate to go into too much detail about the plot points in fear of ruining the unfolding of Karou's new circumstances. Suffice it to say that although Karou believes she is doing exactly what she must do to right the wrongs of her world, she finds herself allied with her previous enemies and with no one to guide her except her own guilty conscience. Caught in the middle of the ages long war between the seraphim and the chimaera, Karou finds she plays a vital role which could change the outcome and end the war forever.
I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone to pieces and it was my Favorite Book of 2011. Sometimes the sophomore effort of a series can leave a reader wanting, this is not the case with Days of Blood and Starlight. After the initial setup, I found this to be quite the page-turner.
As always, Laini Taylor is a master storyteller and brilliant world-builder. The detail with which she has plotted out every detail of Karou's fantastical world is stunning. If you are reading Days of Blood and Starlight for the romance, you might be a tad let down. Akiva and Karou are kept apart for the majority of the story, however, much is revealed through a series of flashbacks that might keep your need show more for amour sated.
I highly recommend Taylor's latest novel with zero hesitation, but you must read Daughter of Smoke and Bone first! This series is a soon to be classic and a perfect way to escape for a few days. show less
I hesitate to go into too much detail about the plot points in fear of ruining the unfolding of Karou's new circumstances. Suffice it to say that although Karou believes she is doing exactly what she must do to right the wrongs of her world, she finds herself allied with her previous enemies and with no one to guide her except her own guilty conscience. Caught in the middle of the ages long war between the seraphim and the chimaera, Karou finds she plays a vital role which could change the outcome and end the war forever.
I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone to pieces and it was my Favorite Book of 2011. Sometimes the sophomore effort of a series can leave a reader wanting, this is not the case with Days of Blood and Starlight. After the initial setup, I found this to be quite the page-turner.
As always, Laini Taylor is a master storyteller and brilliant world-builder. The detail with which she has plotted out every detail of Karou's fantastical world is stunning. If you are reading Days of Blood and Starlight for the romance, you might be a tad let down. Akiva and Karou are kept apart for the majority of the story, however, much is revealed through a series of flashbacks that might keep your need show more for amour sated.
I highly recommend Taylor's latest novel with zero hesitation, but you must read Daughter of Smoke and Bone first! This series is a soon to be classic and a perfect way to escape for a few days. show less
Ellie is a girl on the edge. The type of girl that takes you out for the time of your life and brings you out of your shell. She also encourages you to make poor decisions and can cause you to lose yourself in the glare of her spotlight. She is an enigma, complicated and troubled. She is also now dead, due to a tragic night that is somewhat shrouded in mystery.
Through a series of cryptic clues, Ellie's friends try to put together the pieces of her life and discover the truth of the events leading up to her death. 34 Pieces of You is told from each characters' perspective and Rodrigues is brilliant at teasing out the details and the secrets that each one is hiding as well.
Each sad, lovely character has a unique and true voice (including Ellie). I laughed and cried right beside them. Rodrigues has created a world that is true to the modern teen experience. While she does not shy away from the dark side of being a teen, none of it is a gimmick or device to seem cool or hip. The final revelation of Ellie's full story is heartbreaking and beautiful.
34 Pieces of You is an exquisite and heart-wrenching tale of the dark side of growing up, loss and finding yourself.
Through a series of cryptic clues, Ellie's friends try to put together the pieces of her life and discover the truth of the events leading up to her death. 34 Pieces of You is told from each characters' perspective and Rodrigues is brilliant at teasing out the details and the secrets that each one is hiding as well.
Each sad, lovely character has a unique and true voice (including Ellie). I laughed and cried right beside them. Rodrigues has created a world that is true to the modern teen experience. While she does not shy away from the dark side of being a teen, none of it is a gimmick or device to seem cool or hip. The final revelation of Ellie's full story is heartbreaking and beautiful.
34 Pieces of You is an exquisite and heart-wrenching tale of the dark side of growing up, loss and finding yourself.
Our hero, Gene, is living a double life. By night, he has to remember to control his emotions and his sweat glands. No more laughing or crying, fast swimming or slow running. By day, he either sleeps of roams the world while others sleep. Gene is the worst thing he can be in this world, human. He is surrounded by vampire-like beings and his very survival depends on his ability to blend in and not call attention to himself in any way.
Well, you know he's not going to get away with it, friend. (How fun would that be?) Apparently, these new vampire-like beings are a big bunch of gluttons with little to zero self-control because they are almost out of humans to eat. Enter the Heper Hunt. The president has been breeding humans for the sole purpose of allowing them to be hunted by a select group who have been chosen by lottery. Gene is chosen the be a hunter (his secret is safe for now) and the real hunt is on. He now finds himself thrust into a world of hunters and humans while desperately trying to maintain his cover.
Gene meets a girl or two, natch, and although there is a little smidge of a love story (most notably strange elbow to armpit relations), it is not the central focus of the plot. Mainly, it's all about the constant tension and pressure Gene is trying to live through. You try not to sweat right beside him as every turn and twist brings him closer to being outed and eaten.
The Hunt is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar and never lets go. The fast pace show more kept me turning the pages and I couldn't wait to see how this was all going to turn out for our hero. Some of the choices were odd, but not enough to keep me from highly recommending The Hunt. Fukuda has created a bloody, unique and terrifying world where the humans have lost the war and their future is on the line. show less
Well, you know he's not going to get away with it, friend. (How fun would that be?) Apparently, these new vampire-like beings are a big bunch of gluttons with little to zero self-control because they are almost out of humans to eat. Enter the Heper Hunt. The president has been breeding humans for the sole purpose of allowing them to be hunted by a select group who have been chosen by lottery. Gene is chosen the be a hunter (his secret is safe for now) and the real hunt is on. He now finds himself thrust into a world of hunters and humans while desperately trying to maintain his cover.
Gene meets a girl or two, natch, and although there is a little smidge of a love story (most notably strange elbow to armpit relations), it is not the central focus of the plot. Mainly, it's all about the constant tension and pressure Gene is trying to live through. You try not to sweat right beside him as every turn and twist brings him closer to being outed and eaten.
The Hunt is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar and never lets go. The fast pace show more kept me turning the pages and I couldn't wait to see how this was all going to turn out for our hero. Some of the choices were odd, but not enough to keep me from highly recommending The Hunt. Fukuda has created a bloody, unique and terrifying world where the humans have lost the war and their future is on the line. show less
Pierce has recently returned from the dead. Don't get too excited, zombie fans, she just returned in your run-of-the-mill hypothermia-and-slowed-heartbeat-let-us-revive-you kinda way. Well, it wasn't all "tunnel of glowing light" or This is Your Life recap for Peirce while she was in the dead zone. In Abandon, Peirce takes a little trip to the Underworld, gets sassy with a head dead guy, John, escapes (obviously) and tries to reconcile what she experienced in the underworld with her current teenage life.
Flirting with Hades and his crew is a new trend in YA Paranormal (see Goddess Test, Everneath), but veteran YA novelist extraordinaire, Meg Cabot, brings her expertise to bear with Abandon. Peirce's tale is told in a series of flashbacks which held my attention and added to the mysterious element of Abandon.
I liked Peirce's voice: even when doing semi-foolish things, she at least admitted they were foolish. She's smart, sassy and tough. John (kid of a big deal in the underworld) is mysterious and brooding (natch) without being creepy and stalker-y (well, not too much...). I suspect some of the supporting characters, particularly her family, of hiding more secrets than were revealed in this installment and I look forward to sussing them out.
Abandon's cliffhanger ending might put you on suicide watch while waiting for more, but fret not, fellow reader, the sequel, Underworld, is due in a store near you May 28th, 2012. Overall, Abandon is a mysterious, dark and quick read show more that is a great start to what is sure to be a great series. show less
Flirting with Hades and his crew is a new trend in YA Paranormal (see Goddess Test, Everneath), but veteran YA novelist extraordinaire, Meg Cabot, brings her expertise to bear with Abandon. Peirce's tale is told in a series of flashbacks which held my attention and added to the mysterious element of Abandon.
I liked Peirce's voice: even when doing semi-foolish things, she at least admitted they were foolish. She's smart, sassy and tough. John (kid of a big deal in the underworld) is mysterious and brooding (natch) without being creepy and stalker-y (well, not too much...). I suspect some of the supporting characters, particularly her family, of hiding more secrets than were revealed in this installment and I look forward to sussing them out.
Abandon's cliffhanger ending might put you on suicide watch while waiting for more, but fret not, fellow reader, the sequel, Underworld, is due in a store near you May 28th, 2012. Overall, Abandon is a mysterious, dark and quick read show more that is a great start to what is sure to be a great series. show less
So, our heroine, Vee, has a unique ability/curse of being able to "slide" into other people by touching objects that they have owned or imprinted on (touched in a special way.) In order to avoid seeming incredibly insane, Vee has allowed everyone to believe she is narcoleptic. In this way, she covers for her spells which have a nasty side effect of making her pass out for the duration of the slide.
Well, just when you might be thinking that sliding is all fun and games or you're crafting your Top Ten People to Slide Into Wishlist, enter a complicated best-friendship, an equally complex family life, hero to zero popularity status at high school, a creepy teacher and a murder spree that is circling ever-closer to her sister.
Slide is fast-paced, fun and well-written. The mystery kept me wondering without throwing out to many red herrings or being unbelievable. (Although, it did take a hot minute for Vee to think of her curse as a super power.) Vee is very much a teenager without being to angsty or snarky. I particularly think Hathaway excels at creating the complicated relationships between the characters. Great fast, fun read. Sign me up for the sequel.
Well, just when you might be thinking that sliding is all fun and games or you're crafting your Top Ten People to Slide Into Wishlist, enter a complicated best-friendship, an equally complex family life, hero to zero popularity status at high school, a creepy teacher and a murder spree that is circling ever-closer to her sister.
Slide is fast-paced, fun and well-written. The mystery kept me wondering without throwing out to many red herrings or being unbelievable. (Although, it did take a hot minute for Vee to think of her curse as a super power.) Vee is very much a teenager without being to angsty or snarky. I particularly think Hathaway excels at creating the complicated relationships between the characters. Great fast, fun read. Sign me up for the sequel.
So, Emerson is your typical orphaned teenage girl with one big exception: she sees dead people. This obviously causes a great deal of drama in Emerson's life because, once you start talking to people whom no one else can see, you just bought yourself a one way ticket to the loony bin.
Now, Emerson is supposed to be on her meds (she's not, natch) and her "visions" are getting worse. What's a girl to do? Well, enter hunky, mysterious, Michael (hired by Emerson's brother to help her out.) Turns out, there's more to the people Emerson sees than your typical spectral encounter. Michael knows a thing or two about it thanks to a secret group called Hourglass.
When Emerson becomes more entrenched with the Hourglass group, that's when things really get interesting. I like that McEntire threw in a couple of curveballs that I didn't see coming. The other people in the group seem to have compelling backstories and I can't wait to see more of them in future books in this series.
Naturally, there is a love angle (or tri-angle, if you will) with Emerson and Michael having literal electricity between them when they touch and then Emerson and Kaleb (super-playah-type with the required heart of gold) having numerous flirty-type encounters. Not to ruin it for you, but my money's on Michael being the obvious victor in the war for Emerson's heart here. Have to say though, Kaleb is a man after my own heart in a hunky, bad-boy way.
Overall, I really liked Hourglass and feel that it is an excellent show more start to what is sure to be a page-turning series. show less
Now, Emerson is supposed to be on her meds (she's not, natch) and her "visions" are getting worse. What's a girl to do? Well, enter hunky, mysterious, Michael (hired by Emerson's brother to help her out.) Turns out, there's more to the people Emerson sees than your typical spectral encounter. Michael knows a thing or two about it thanks to a secret group called Hourglass.
When Emerson becomes more entrenched with the Hourglass group, that's when things really get interesting. I like that McEntire threw in a couple of curveballs that I didn't see coming. The other people in the group seem to have compelling backstories and I can't wait to see more of them in future books in this series.
Naturally, there is a love angle (or tri-angle, if you will) with Emerson and Michael having literal electricity between them when they touch and then Emerson and Kaleb (super-playah-type with the required heart of gold) having numerous flirty-type encounters. Not to ruin it for you, but my money's on Michael being the obvious victor in the war for Emerson's heart here. Have to say though, Kaleb is a man after my own heart in a hunky, bad-boy way.
Overall, I really liked Hourglass and feel that it is an excellent show more start to what is sure to be a page-turning series. show less
So, Celia and Marco are raised from childhood to be magicians. Not in the pulling-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat magician (or illusionist), but the real-magic-shooting-from-the-fingers type. Due to their fathers' Machiavellian ways, they are also pitted against each other from childhood in a long, high-stakes contest to see who is the better magician.
The arena for their years-long duel is the magical Night Circus. A curious, beautiful thing that suddenly appears and is only open at night. Morgenstern is such an artist with the written word that is could feel myself becoming more and more immersed in their beautiful, magical world with every turn of the page.
Celia and Marco fall for each other eventually and now the race is on to discover a way out of their desperate duel. The characters are well-written, the fathers are cringe-inducingly evil and the supporting characters could be novels in their own right.
With The Night Circus, Morgenstern has created a beautiful, ethereal, fragile and lovely world, inhabited with amazing characters that will linger with you for days.
The arena for their years-long duel is the magical Night Circus. A curious, beautiful thing that suddenly appears and is only open at night. Morgenstern is such an artist with the written word that is could feel myself becoming more and more immersed in their beautiful, magical world with every turn of the page.
Celia and Marco fall for each other eventually and now the race is on to discover a way out of their desperate duel. The characters are well-written, the fathers are cringe-inducingly evil and the supporting characters could be novels in their own right.
With The Night Circus, Morgenstern has created a beautiful, ethereal, fragile and lovely world, inhabited with amazing characters that will linger with you for days.
So, our buddy Wade, is living in a pretty grim reality in 2044. The world has devolved to the extreme have's and have-not's (guess which one Wade is...) and almost everyone has retreated to a Utopian virtual world of their own design, OASIS. Wade is an OASIS fanatic and when the gazillionaire creator of OASIS dies and leaves his fortune up for grabs to anyone smart enough to get it, Wade is an unlikely but strong contender.
Wade has to avoid death and destruction (literally and virtually) in his attempt to find every clue and solve the puzzle before anyone else. The Easter eggs and puzzles are all retro (from the 1980's) and are fun to read and solve along with Wade for anyone who might remember (and love) War Games, John Hughes, and old school video games.
The stakes are high as an evil corporation is hell bent on solving the mystery before our beleaguered hero. Ready Player One is somewhat of a cross between Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Tron and Second Life with Eagle Eye thrown in for good measure.
The pace is brisk and at several points, the pages were turning so fast I thought I was going to get carpal tunnel. I could easily see Ready Player One becoming a great adventure/suspense movie. And guess what? It is! ...in 2014. Great, rollicking thrill ride through our past, present and future. I can't wait to see what Ernest Cline comes up with next!
Wade has to avoid death and destruction (literally and virtually) in his attempt to find every clue and solve the puzzle before anyone else. The Easter eggs and puzzles are all retro (from the 1980's) and are fun to read and solve along with Wade for anyone who might remember (and love) War Games, John Hughes, and old school video games.
The stakes are high as an evil corporation is hell bent on solving the mystery before our beleaguered hero. Ready Player One is somewhat of a cross between Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Tron and Second Life with Eagle Eye thrown in for good measure.
The pace is brisk and at several points, the pages were turning so fast I thought I was going to get carpal tunnel. I could easily see Ready Player One becoming a great adventure/suspense movie. And guess what? It is! ...in 2014. Great, rollicking thrill ride through our past, present and future. I can't wait to see what Ernest Cline comes up with next!
So, our hero, Cas, is a real-life ghost hunter. Crack a Ghostbusters joke at him at your peril. Following in his recently deceased father's footsteps, Cas' goal in life is to help specters go toward to light by any means necessary. Now, these haunters are not your typical walk-through-walls-and-rattle-chains type. These guys can actually kill you, if you are dumb enough to get that close.
It was refreshing to read a paranormal YA from a male perspective. I really liked Cas and his voice was unique. He's smart, clever and tough. Having traveled his entire life, Cas is quite the loner, but not without his charms. He is used to having to fit into new situations and quickly make friends. He's not so used to keeping them or forging close bonds with anyone outside of his family.
Enter Anna. Cas and his mom move across the country to check out rumors of a violent ghost known as Anna Dressed in Blood. Cas uses his sleuthing skills to try to get to bottom of the Anna mystery and finds friends and love along the way. Anna, herself, is a terrifying yet sympathetic character. She is not a woman to be trifled with and the body count piles up fairly quickly.
I loved this spooky, snarky blood-bath of a book! Anna Dressed in Blood is the first in a series, and I can't wait to follow the adventures of Cas and Co.
It was refreshing to read a paranormal YA from a male perspective. I really liked Cas and his voice was unique. He's smart, clever and tough. Having traveled his entire life, Cas is quite the loner, but not without his charms. He is used to having to fit into new situations and quickly make friends. He's not so used to keeping them or forging close bonds with anyone outside of his family.
Enter Anna. Cas and his mom move across the country to check out rumors of a violent ghost known as Anna Dressed in Blood. Cas uses his sleuthing skills to try to get to bottom of the Anna mystery and finds friends and love along the way. Anna, herself, is a terrifying yet sympathetic character. She is not a woman to be trifled with and the body count piles up fairly quickly.
I loved this spooky, snarky blood-bath of a book! Anna Dressed in Blood is the first in a series, and I can't wait to follow the adventures of Cas and Co.
I heard many great things about Starters and I couldn't wait to dig in! Well, I can tell you, friends, all of the early buzz was well justified and I wasn't disappointed.
So, once upon a time, in the not-so-distant future, due to biological warfare, everyone between the ages of 20 and 60 is now dead. Adding to the chaos that invariably ensues is the fact that once considered elderly people (Enders) are now living to 200. Therefore, everyone under 20 (Starters) can basically suck it. Unless you have a nice Elder to take you under their wing, you are a menace and a threat.
Enter our heroine, Callie. She has lost her entire family during the Spore Wars with the exception of her little brother, Tyler. Tyler is sickly and Callie is willing to risk her life to protect him. The two of them have joined up with Michael and, together, the three of them fight of Renegades, avoid Marshalls and dumpster dive for food to survive.
Callie discovers a covert opportunity to make enough money to buy her little family a house (and take care of them for a year) in exchange for a few weeks of her life. Prime Destinations is offering her the chance to get off the streets as long as she doesn't mind an Ender taking over her body for a spell. Nothing bad could come of that, right?
Well, despite her initial reservations, Callie takes the deal (you knew she would) and shenanigans ensue. What follows is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride. Callie finds herself thrust into a world filled with money, show more glamour, cute boys, peril, mystery and imposters. I couldn't wait to see what was coming around each twist and turn.
I found Callie to be quite the KAH. She was clever, resourceful and deadly in her undercover role (I could see a Nikita, Dollhouse or Alias situation in her future). I can't wait to see where her adventures take her next. Sign me up for the sequel! show less
So, once upon a time, in the not-so-distant future, due to biological warfare, everyone between the ages of 20 and 60 is now dead. Adding to the chaos that invariably ensues is the fact that once considered elderly people (Enders) are now living to 200. Therefore, everyone under 20 (Starters) can basically suck it. Unless you have a nice Elder to take you under their wing, you are a menace and a threat.
Enter our heroine, Callie. She has lost her entire family during the Spore Wars with the exception of her little brother, Tyler. Tyler is sickly and Callie is willing to risk her life to protect him. The two of them have joined up with Michael and, together, the three of them fight of Renegades, avoid Marshalls and dumpster dive for food to survive.
Callie discovers a covert opportunity to make enough money to buy her little family a house (and take care of them for a year) in exchange for a few weeks of her life. Prime Destinations is offering her the chance to get off the streets as long as she doesn't mind an Ender taking over her body for a spell. Nothing bad could come of that, right?
Well, despite her initial reservations, Callie takes the deal (you knew she would) and shenanigans ensue. What follows is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride. Callie finds herself thrust into a world filled with money, show more glamour, cute boys, peril, mystery and imposters. I couldn't wait to see what was coming around each twist and turn.
I found Callie to be quite the KAH. She was clever, resourceful and deadly in her undercover role (I could see a Nikita, Dollhouse or Alias situation in her future). I can't wait to see where her adventures take her next. Sign me up for the sequel! show less
So, the story is, John lives in a world (in the not-so-distant future) where with just a few shots, one can defy the aging process for-ev-er! You could still die from accidents or even disease, but not from growing old. Sounds great, right? The world has always actively tried to stop aging, no more so than right now.
Well, think again, my friend. With fewer people dying, the world's population (already at a tipping point) becomes a burden on our dwindling resources. Also, the moral and logistical implications of living forever (as long as you are accident and disease free) start to set in. In The Postmortal, anti-cure sects pop up (religious and secular) and it's obvious that not everyone thinks stopping the natural aging process is the best plan ever.
I think I love futuristic/dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels because I am intrigued by other people's predictions of how our lives might play out in the future under certain circumstances. In The Postmortal, we are given that vision in spades. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the theoretical consequences of never aging. Such as: Do you really want to be married forever now that it really means eternity with the same person? No retirement plan? No problem, buddy, because you will be working for the next 400 years or so just to sustain your young lifestyle. Think you're bored now, just imagine hundreds of years spread out before you while you live your little life forever and ever and ever...
The Postmortal is not all show more gloom and doom (at times it's snarky and hilarious), but it does cleverly present concrete arguments against the quest for eternal life. The plot is well-conceived and the pace is frenzied. I found myself caring about John and wanting to know where this world was going to take him. At the end of the book, I still wanted more! The Postmortal also has has the elements of romance, mystery and thriller that kept me glued to the pages. Great book that I would recommend to anyone curious about the consequences if we all stayed forever young. show less
Well, think again, my friend. With fewer people dying, the world's population (already at a tipping point) becomes a burden on our dwindling resources. Also, the moral and logistical implications of living forever (as long as you are accident and disease free) start to set in. In The Postmortal, anti-cure sects pop up (religious and secular) and it's obvious that not everyone thinks stopping the natural aging process is the best plan ever.
I think I love futuristic/dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels because I am intrigued by other people's predictions of how our lives might play out in the future under certain circumstances. In The Postmortal, we are given that vision in spades. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the theoretical consequences of never aging. Such as: Do you really want to be married forever now that it really means eternity with the same person? No retirement plan? No problem, buddy, because you will be working for the next 400 years or so just to sustain your young lifestyle. Think you're bored now, just imagine hundreds of years spread out before you while you live your little life forever and ever and ever...
The Postmortal is not all show more gloom and doom (at times it's snarky and hilarious), but it does cleverly present concrete arguments against the quest for eternal life. The plot is well-conceived and the pace is frenzied. I found myself caring about John and wanting to know where this world was going to take him. At the end of the book, I still wanted more! The Postmortal also has has the elements of romance, mystery and thriller that kept me glued to the pages. Great book that I would recommend to anyone curious about the consequences if we all stayed forever young. show less
Wow, this book was great! So, the deal is: Gaia is training with her mother as a midwife is a village in a dystopian future. Her parents are taken away for questioning (in the first page - so no spoiler here) and Gaia must decide if she can trust the Enclave that has always protected the village or look for answers on her own. Two points for you if you can guess what she decides to do.
I just loved Gaia, she is clever, wary, resourceful and passionate about doing the right thing. Her parents are three-dimensional and a strong influence in her life. I loved the flashbacks to her childhood. Leon is a great character and I enjoyed their back and forth. Even the side characters are interesting and I can see some of their roles expanded in future novels. I also liked that the villains weren't cartoonish and I could understand their motives if not their tactics.
Birthmarked has all of the elements of a page-turning story that I just can't get enough of: a KAH, a great male protagonist/love interest, interesting world building, mysterious secrets, well-paced plot and although the sequel is teased about at the end (and I can't wait to get it), I'm not on suicide watch until I have it in my hot little hands.
Overall, an amazing story that I would highly recommend to anyone, especially if you think your burned out on dystopian tales.
I just loved Gaia, she is clever, wary, resourceful and passionate about doing the right thing. Her parents are three-dimensional and a strong influence in her life. I loved the flashbacks to her childhood. Leon is a great character and I enjoyed their back and forth. Even the side characters are interesting and I can see some of their roles expanded in future novels. I also liked that the villains weren't cartoonish and I could understand their motives if not their tactics.
Birthmarked has all of the elements of a page-turning story that I just can't get enough of: a KAH, a great male protagonist/love interest, interesting world building, mysterious secrets, well-paced plot and although the sequel is teased about at the end (and I can't wait to get it), I'm not on suicide watch until I have it in my hot little hands.
Overall, an amazing story that I would highly recommend to anyone, especially if you think your burned out on dystopian tales.
The Twisted Thread is a sneak peek behind the secret and lies festering at a New England prep school. Madeline is the fish-out-of-water who is not only still trying to figure out her surroundings, but is now thrust in the middle of a murder and missing person investigation.
Claire is your typical (seemingly), beautiful, "popular girl" who has suddenly turned up dead in her dorm room. Not only that, apparently she was secretly pregnant, had just delivered, and to top it all off the baby is now missing. Baby Daddy TBD.
Madeline finds herself trying to get to the bottom of the sordid story by talking to everyone who knew Claire. The "mean girls" at Armitage Academy are members of Claire's secret society and possibly the best candidates for the cover up. It seems that Claire also had quite a few boyfriends and everyone is a suspect. The teachers are keeping secrets also and I enjoyed trying to get to the bottom of all of their mysteries.
Madeline has a couple of love interests herself. When not teaching or detecting, she has some well-written moments with each of them. With Armitage-alumni-turned-cop, Matt, being my fave. No Thunder-Bolt of Destiny here.
The story is told from multiple points of view which can sometimes distract from the narrative rather than add to it. The mystery plot is a good one and the ultimate villain is a surprise at the end. Some of the other sub-plots are just not as strong. Overall, I enjoyed The Twisted Thread and the mystery kept me entertained.
Claire is your typical (seemingly), beautiful, "popular girl" who has suddenly turned up dead in her dorm room. Not only that, apparently she was secretly pregnant, had just delivered, and to top it all off the baby is now missing. Baby Daddy TBD.
Madeline finds herself trying to get to the bottom of the sordid story by talking to everyone who knew Claire. The "mean girls" at Armitage Academy are members of Claire's secret society and possibly the best candidates for the cover up. It seems that Claire also had quite a few boyfriends and everyone is a suspect. The teachers are keeping secrets also and I enjoyed trying to get to the bottom of all of their mysteries.
Madeline has a couple of love interests herself. When not teaching or detecting, she has some well-written moments with each of them. With Armitage-alumni-turned-cop, Matt, being my fave. No Thunder-Bolt of Destiny here.
The story is told from multiple points of view which can sometimes distract from the narrative rather than add to it. The mystery plot is a good one and the ultimate villain is a surprise at the end. Some of the other sub-plots are just not as strong. Overall, I enjoyed The Twisted Thread and the mystery kept me entertained.
So, our New Girl comes to Manderly Academy for her senior year. Because space is limited, she takes a spot that recently opened up due to the mysterious disappearance of a student named Becca. The New Girl has all of the elements of your basic fish-out-of-water story: she feels awkward and not sure what to do, people are snotty to her and the hottest two boys in school are sending smoldering glances her way (natch).
Her roommate is a psycho who worshipped Becca (no bonding anytime soon here...) Also, apparently Becca's parents couldn't be bothered to clean out her side of the room and New Girl sleeps under a wall of smiling Beccas beaming down upon her. Her peers and love-interests are constantly comparing her to Becca. Putting New Girl (her name isn't revealed until the end of the story as a nod to the source material) in the position of having to always prove that she is not Becca. How annoying for her...
The New Girl has elements of teen sex and partying and I wouldn't recommend to to people who are sensitive to reading about such things. These elements did make me wonder what kind of crazy prep school this was because the kids went out every night and barely had to hide it. Which is fine, but your typical high schooler doesn't usually have the liberty the throw down every night of the week. Now college...that's a different story.
This story comes with a twist, though. Becca was a notorious party girl and her disappearance is a mystery that consumes the entire school. I show more loved trying figure out who-done-it and trying to discern the truth from rumours.
Harbison has crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller (based on Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier) that was a pleasure to devour. show less
Her roommate is a psycho who worshipped Becca (no bonding anytime soon here...) Also, apparently Becca's parents couldn't be bothered to clean out her side of the room and New Girl sleeps under a wall of smiling Beccas beaming down upon her. Her peers and love-interests are constantly comparing her to Becca. Putting New Girl (her name isn't revealed until the end of the story as a nod to the source material) in the position of having to always prove that she is not Becca. How annoying for her...
The New Girl has elements of teen sex and partying and I wouldn't recommend to to people who are sensitive to reading about such things. These elements did make me wonder what kind of crazy prep school this was because the kids went out every night and barely had to hide it. Which is fine, but your typical high schooler doesn't usually have the liberty the throw down every night of the week. Now college...that's a different story.
This story comes with a twist, though. Becca was a notorious party girl and her disappearance is a mystery that consumes the entire school. I show more loved trying figure out who-done-it and trying to discern the truth from rumours.
Harbison has crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller (based on Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier) that was a pleasure to devour. show less
Rules of Civility is a series of beautifully written vignettes, each one a little love letter to New York City in the late 1930’s. The novel isn’t a series of short stories, technically, but it contains many small scenes that could function very on their own. The overall plot is just as captivating containing numerous twists and turns executed by well-developed characters.
The scene is NYC 1938. The depression is almost over, the War to End All Wars has yet to begin and in this pause between historic upheavals, our main characters find themselves thrown together. Eve and Katey are a couple of girls with plenty of smarts and moxie, but not so much dough. Tinker is clever and kind and introduces the girls to a life of privilege and glamour. The question (as and will be) is how much does the “good life” really cost a person?
Each character is beautifully developed (even the side characters) and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Katey's adventures.
The scene is NYC 1938. The depression is almost over, the War to End All Wars has yet to begin and in this pause between historic upheavals, our main characters find themselves thrown together. Eve and Katey are a couple of girls with plenty of smarts and moxie, but not so much dough. Tinker is clever and kind and introduces the girls to a life of privilege and glamour. The question (as and will be) is how much does the “good life” really cost a person?
Each character is beautifully developed (even the side characters) and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Katey's adventures.
My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan is a fun, frothy, frolic that reminded me of some of my favorite “chick-lit” books. Justin finds himself in embarrassing/funny/awkward situations ala Becky Bloomwood and Bridget Jones. You can see that our hero is making bad decisions that will only lead to trouble, but it’s so much fun to see how he’s going to get out of it.
I’ve been a fan of Rudetsky (better known for his Broadway resume) for years. He hosts a couple of my favorite Broadway talk shows on Sirius/XM’s Broadway Channel, writes regular features for Playbill and has been in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions himself. With that in mind, I knew that Broadway musicals were going to feature in his debut novel and, as a fan, I relished the references, although they might not be for everyone.
This is the first YA romance I’ve read that features a homosexual hero. I loved that it wasn’t preachy or deep. It just was. Justin is funny, sassy and awkward all at the same time and his BFF, Spencer, is a perfect foil to all of his half-baked plans.
In the end My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan wasn’t so much about the differences between people with different sexual preferences, it was a testament to how similar their situations actually are. First crushes and first love are strange territory for any teenager and Rudetsky has shown just how funny it can be too.
I’ve been a fan of Rudetsky (better known for his Broadway resume) for years. He hosts a couple of my favorite Broadway talk shows on Sirius/XM’s Broadway Channel, writes regular features for Playbill and has been in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions himself. With that in mind, I knew that Broadway musicals were going to feature in his debut novel and, as a fan, I relished the references, although they might not be for everyone.
This is the first YA romance I’ve read that features a homosexual hero. I loved that it wasn’t preachy or deep. It just was. Justin is funny, sassy and awkward all at the same time and his BFF, Spencer, is a perfect foil to all of his half-baked plans.
In the end My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan wasn’t so much about the differences between people with different sexual preferences, it was a testament to how similar their situations actually are. First crushes and first love are strange territory for any teenager and Rudetsky has shown just how funny it can be too.