This book was absolutely mesmerizing, surprising, painful and it left me completely shocked after I‘ve finished it. It‘s one of those books that you can‘t let go of until you‘re finished with it or only if you really have to. Even though the whole focus is not on Clay at all and we actually find out very little about him, I could still find myself being him whilst listening to the tapes that change your whole life.

Hannah, however, is a character I can relate to the most. With myself going through things daily and sometimes thinking too much it‘s the character I found myself feeling with - sharing their pain, their thoughts and their problems. She‘s a character that you love no matter what. She‘s a character you wish is alive and not only the voice on tapes. Sometimes it‘s easy to get lost in words and start to think that you‘re reading any other novel that has a boy and a girl falling in love. But then, just with one simple sentence, you‘re back in “reality“ and you realize what‘s really going on once again. This is definitely not your usual book and I got to admit that‘s the reason I liked it so much. There were parts in the book that I found a little wary, but that didn‘t stop me from giving it 5 stars because a meaning, a message, and just the whole story is more important than that. I recommend this book to everyone who feel like reading something painful and something that will make them cry in both, good and a bad way. Sometimes, books show more like this is what we need and this was exactly what I needed at the moment.

I wouldn‘t want to give anything much away, but be prepared if you‘re thinking of reading it because this book will tear you in so many ways, but despite that, it‘s definitely a book I‘ll read a few times. show less

I just really loved this novel. It was fun, light-hearted and overall enjoyable that had me smiling almost all the time. I needed something like this because it really did do some necessary cheering up for me. I loved all the characters, a plotline was simple, but still not boring at all and messages this book is sending are the ones to think of. All in all, it was a great read.

It was like a cute, little fanfiction, but I'd lie if I said I didn't enjoy it. Maybe because I do enjoy good fanfiction, especially this kind. I'd recommend it to everyone who loves a little One Direction and cutesy, in parts a little angsty, M/M romance. It was nice, light read and I enjoyed most of it, even though it had a fanfiction feel to it.

Any book that makes me cry deserves five stars. This was completely, utterly heartbreaking and I don't think I'm in a state to write clever, reasonable review right now. I also don't think I can say anything without spoiling it but this was just perfect. I started reading it when I was feeling like reading something depressive of some sort and this book seemed like a perfect choice. I've never read a book written in a poetry form before and I didn't know what to expect. On my own surprise, I found the written style incredibly captivating and intruding. I loved it more than I expected it and this book made me learn how incredible Ellen Hopkins is as an author. I'll definitely read more books of hers in a future.

This book touched me right in the heart and ripped me apart in a good way. I'm still quite shaken from it and I hope you find the same enjoyment in that I did.

I've given up of this book the moment a guy, Nick or whatever, said something along the lines "I hope she's not one of those freaks who cut themselves". Any book shaming on eating disorders, depression and/or self-harming issues is a big 'no' for me. Maybe it didn't stuck to many readers of this book, but once I read that line, I read it one more time just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Even if it was just one line, it stuck with me (I tried to read this book months ago). I had a same problem with [b:Marked|30183|Marked (House of Night, #1)|P.C. Cast|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368453848s/30183.jpg|30573] so there's no way I'm giving any props to this one. I think I read 60 pages or so, but that was as far as I could get. Characters were annoying, constant POV switches were tiring and I found it boring till no end. I know people find this book "unique" and "amazing" and whatnot and, don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of YA paranormal books. They are my favourite genre, but sometimes there are books that are just not working for me. This was one of them.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I loved it. I found it really mesmerizing and well written and the theme is tough but I like books like these. There is a part of me that feels like emotionless bitch for not crying and I questioned my whole life because I cry at a lot of books. However, it did leave an impact on me. I have a feeling I'll remember this book for a long time and maybe if I reread it, there will be tears. Or maybe I just became immune. I hope not though. I don't have much to say because everything has already been said. This book is one of my personal favourites and even though it had these little parts that irked me (hence 4.5 star rating) I found it enjoyable and well written and I learned that, indeed, John Green is a really good writer.

I don't get a feeling I got with this book very often. I was completely, excuse my French, mindfucked by this from the very beginning and sometimes I needed to take a break and process everything that I've read. It's unusual, strange, weird - however you want to call it - book and it takes some time getting used to it, or it did for me. But once I did, I couldn't keep my eyes off this book. It's a fast read, but so terrifying at the same time that it'll made you question everything that you've just read. Anorexia is an eating disorder that mostly gets younger girls, teenagers, and sometimes people forgot it can happen to males, too. This book shows perfectly how it can happen to anyone.

Everything is straight-forward, bold and astonishingly honest. There is no sugar coating, everything is described in detail - Mike's mind, the voice in his head that's probably the most terrifying thing in the story, and his process to having anorexia nervousa, without him realizing it for the most of the book, which is not surprising. I liked that more than anything. It only made me want to finish it as fast as I did and I'm definitely not sorry for picking this book up and reading it in hours time. I'll most likely go back and read this over and over again. There is no way I could give it any less than 5 stars. It's just that good.

Absolutely brilliant.

THIS WAS SO CUTE I'M SMILING SO MUCH EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED THANK U M.J. THIS WAS THE CUTEST. I'm sorry about shouting, this novella just made me so happy! :))))))

((This review can also be found on my blog Underneath the Books))

I'd like to start off by saying that I've never been a fan of historical novels. I'd pick one up and never get as close as to finishing it. This genre just wasn't intriguing for me - especially when most of them dealt with subjects I never cared enough about. But fantasy novel put in 1600s? Yes, I'll take that. And let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed. What I do not understand though, is that it took me more than a month to finish it. Usually, I read books I don't like for this long. Maybe it was the fact that I'd always find another book to read that sounded more intriguing than this one, especially when it's slow-paced at the beginning and I had a hard time concentrating enough to get through all phrases I wasn't used to and the slowness of the book in general. However, that slowness wasn't particularly bad for me. In fact, I felt as it was necessary. In my opinion, if an author put more action in the middle, this book would lose its purpose. Everything was built the way it should've been - MC finding out she's not your usual teenage girl, MC finding herself in another place, MC learning about herself, MC training, and then a finale. I did notice that a lot of readers complain about it, but I thought it was well built and well planned.

The romance in this book is one of my favourite parts. In fact, there almost isn't any until about 70% of a book. As well as the book, it wasn't rushed, it wasn't show more unnatural, it wasn't sappy and corny as hell (which I'd really grown to hate), but it was just the way it was supposed to be - sweet enough, almost your every day teenage love (though not really, but as natural as the real "I'm in love" can get).

Lucy wasn't annoying. I'd even say she was very entertaining character to get to know and to listen to. She had her fears, she had her doubts, and she had her bravery not a lot of characters have in these-days novels. Actually, I don't think I was annoyed by any character all that much. All of them were likable enough and even though there were moments where some of the characters irked me, I could not hate them. None of them are truly evil, except for one, though I think even he has a good side in himself, just like all of us. They were all complex and very well thought of. In conclusion, characters were the ones that made this novel even better.

All things considered, this book was enjoyable, though slow-paced and a bit hard to get through at time. It's one of the better I read this year, that's for sure, and it made me want to read more historical novels. I think I'll give them more chance from now on. However, this is definitely not a book for everyone - some will like it, some will hate it, some will find it boring. I liked it and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel. show less

I have so many problems with this novella and I don't even know why. Maybe it's because I feel like I've read better fanfiction erotica than this. Writing was sloppy, I had a problem getting into a story, I felt as though Chris's character wasn't as nearly developed as he could be and whole thing was too rushed, even though it was just a small novella. Maybe it's just me and me not getting used to short stories. So I do hope other people will enjoy it better than me.

((This review can also be found on my blog Underneath the Books))

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I'm trying to find a way to begin this review as I'm not a fan of repeating the whole summary when it's already out here. This novel was good. I enjoyed the most of it and I could relate with Asher in many ways. He was a likable characters, at least for me. Some would say he was a bit emotionless, a bit arrogant, and selfish. To me, he came as a strong, brave character who tried to deal with things happening around him as best as he could. When he gets a camera from his aunt, he starts to see the world through the lens of it, making him a bit delusional, trapped in his own world. He's pulled back into a reality when his dad leaves and when his mum starts to avoid his father as best as she can. She blames it all on him, saying that he leaved them all, and Asher's struggle with his mum is one of the strongest elements in this book. He doesn't think it's right what she's doing, but he's not saying anything which can lead to greater things in a future. Then there is Travis who is bugging both of them, especially his mum, who then leaves him for all or nothing to Asher.

At the same time, Asher meets Garrett where his own sexuality comes in question. However, I found this part a bit wary. It's not that I couldn't feel him struggling because there was jealousy involved and there were questions in his head he didn't know the answer to, but I feel as though his sexuality could've been more show more explored. Although, I could also see author's point and how maybe she didn't want it to be in the first plan. His struggling to fight his growing feelings was definitely interesting to read though.

Things start going more downhill when his brother, Travis, drowns. Now, this part is one of those I can completely understand - Asher being the way he was. The way when it seemed like he cared more about other things than his own brother's death, or the way he kept capturing the moments with his camera even after that. Shock and disbelief is most likely to cause that. However, as any other human being, he broke a few times, even though he tried to keep it together at least for his mum who seemed to be falling apart. I admire that. With all things happening around him and inside of him, he kept that "emotionless" facade. Of course, there were always cracks where you could see through it and sometimes I wished I could make things easier for him.

Finally, we come to religion in this book which is probably the part that irked me the most. I am born Christian and I was raised to believe that God exists. Although, my own beliefs and my own thoughts don't have or have very little connection with Christianity. Asher was Methodist, as it was mentioned few times through the book, but there are a lot of things similar to Christianity and as I'm never participating in my faith, I could not relate. Let me explain something, I accept everyone. I have nothing against religion. I just don't read a lot of books who have it as one of the main parts in the novel. I wasn't exactly bothered by it, I just couldn't relate at all so I guess that was a bit of a problem for me. But, it was helping them, helping Asher, and I was glad to see he had something he believed in.

All things considered, this was really good novel. Not one of my favourites and I think there were parts that could've been done better, but I enjoyed it regardless and I'm glad I've got a change to read it! show less

Okay, so, trying to read this book is like a torture. I can't describe it. From the first line it was just... dull. Boring. And I wanted to die. I almost fell asleep while reading it, even though I wasn't tired. I got to page 100 until I finally gave up because there are so many good books to read and reading a bad book is just a waste of time. It's a good thing I didn't buy it because my money would just go to waste.

The main character, Ethan, really does sound like a middle-aged man. I couldn't even picture him as a 16-year-old teenager. I also didn't get a clear picture of him. All I knew was that his hair needs a haircut and that he's tall. I like to have a character in my head. It's easier for me to follow a storyline, to imagine everything that's going on because when I have unclear, blurry face, it's not as enjoyable. I don't know, maybe he's described more as the story goes on, but I'm sure as hell not going to continue it to find out.

Like I said, it was incredibly boring. Writing style didn't captivate me at all and nothing caught my attention enough to raise my eyebrows and continue reading the book with more enthusiasm what I always look for in a book. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you like long, dull books, then this is a book for you.

((This review can also be found on my blog Underneath the Books))

This book is everything. This book is that and even more. There are only few books that affected me in the way Two Boys Kissing did. It's the narration in a book, told from the view of dead gay man that lost their lives to AIDS. It's messages, so much messages, this book offers and tries to spread and says. It's the storyline, so strong and so impressive and done in just the right way. It's the characters, every character in this book, and the way I could connect to all of them in one way or another. It's the whole book put together, it's everything this book offers, that makes me love it so much. I wish I could just go around and recommend it to everyone around me, even if they'd probably ignore me.

This book tells a story about two boys, Harry and Craig, that want to break a 32-hour World Record in kissing. It tells a story about Peter and Neil, two boys who've been together for a while now. It tells a story about Ryan and Avery, two boys who meet at a gay prom. And it tells a story about Cooper, a gay teenager with more life at gay hookup sites than in the real world. Each story is the story of its own and it brings more questions, more problems that teens, gay or not, deal with. I found myself in each of the character, finding bits and pieces that I can connect with, too so it was even easier for me to enjoy this as much.

Messages in this book are overpowering. This book makes you think, really think, and show more I'm quite sure I'll be thinking about everything I've just read for a long time and will probably reread it too many times. I'm trying to think of what else to say, but I've just finished this and I'm still speechless and this is as best as I can offer. If you're uncertain about this, don't think twice anymore. Just read it! You won't regret it at all. ((And now I sound like one of those annoying commercials for some product I'm sorry.)) show less

I really really enjoyed this. Another mindf*** of a book, definite page-turner and a bit of a surprising way of ending. Full review to come.

Don't feel like reviewing because I'm sick but I loved this one a lot.

There is no way I can finish this. It's that bad. That's all I have to say.

Loved this!

((This review can also be found on my blog Underneath the Books))

RAGE.

RAGE.

SO MUCH RAGE.

Let me explain something. At 10% I was ready to give this book 4 stars. Somewhere around 40% it fell down to 3. Then, not even 5% later, it was down to 2 stars. But when I reached 90% and unnecessary plot twist that made no sense happened and I got so so so pissed, I couldn't give it more than 1 star. From the blurb, I really really thought I'd like this. I liked the idea, I thought it'll be great bullying book. But no. This book doesn't come close to digging deeper into bullying subject than just having someone who hates MC but secretly wants to shag her. It's full of sexual tension and nothing more. As being a victim of bullying, I couldn't take this seriously. It seemed as bullying subject was only there just to try to make it more interesting. It failed. It was handled poorly and I guess we should've only cared about main characters fucking.

The thing is, I never get so pissed at the book that I'm screaming so loudly that I'm sure my neighbours can hear me. This book managed to change that, too. If I could've, I'd burn it, but I have it on my Kindle so that was out of question. My phone is still too precious to me. I felt as this book should've been finished before it actually was and I was getting sick of it after the said 90%. Then it became even more dramatic and I hated it so much I barely managed to finish it. I do not, in any way, understand how this book has so many five-star show more ratings, but it looks like that's the case with every NA novel, even if it's horrible (and most of them are, to be honest).

To the top of that, add sexism, slut-shaming, annoying, unbearable main character and her even more annoying best friend and a "perfect" guy and there you have it! A perfect book, isn't it? Stay away. For life. You don't want to read this. I'd never want anyone to go through this. There are so many problems with this book and with its characters that I was cringing more than I was keeping a straight face. Moreover, I should've probably counted how many times the author wrote "Ugh!" or "Agh!" and added unnecessary exclamation marks. Writing style was annoying more times than it wasn't and I'd laugh out loud at some words that were used.

This seems nothing different than any NA book, even if I haven't read many. Blurbs are almost enough. I feel proud of myself that I even finished this because I usually can't. But I made myself and I succeeded. Four for me!

All things considered, this book is utter crap. Don't even bother with it if you care for your mental health. If you decide to read it though, I hope you like it more than me! show less