20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Publisher: Little
Category: Young Adult
304 Pages

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.

Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Yet another new(ish) book! I think this one was Amanda's actually... Huh. This book was good. It dealt with loss so believably. Most books will overdo the tragedy or underdo it. Ockler made it just right!

I loved Anna's character. She made me smile throughout most of the book. I loved how sensible she was. Frankie didn't deserve a friend like her. I kept wanting to shake Frankie. I wanted to scream at her whenever the big reveal happened.

The writing was just...wow. It flowed beautifully. By the fifth page I was completely sucked into this book. This book is worth being picked up. It's not a traditional happy-ever after, but it's close enough.

B

Wake by Lisa McMann

Wake by Lisa McMann

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

The description of this book makes it sound tons creepier then Wake really is. This sounds like she is sucked into a murder's or a rapist's dream. In reality - well I can't ruin the plot. It's just a little bit on the anti-climatic side.

The plot is excellent. The pace is excellent. I got completely sucked in. I wanted to know more about Janie - How'd she get this gift? What's going to happen to her? I can't wait to pick up Fade in the hope that more will be shared with us. The two leads are strong. Janie is an interesting character whose story is pleading to be told. Cabel defines the Transformers motto - "There's more than meets the eye".

I had one huge problem with the entire book. The writing style. It's extremely jumpy and blotchy. She writes. Her sentences. Like this. After a while I was able to stop caring about the way she wrote since the plot was so good. If either Fade or Gone is bad then reading them is going to be painful.

I also had a problem with how much drinking Janie did. My dad is an alcoholic so I have problems reading books where the leads knocks down booze without any consequence. I know a lot of teenagers drink (I myself have a fondness for margaritas and daiquiris, but I only have sips of my moms) but don't make it seem so easy or so simple. I know I just sounded like a hypocrite, but I don't know how to put my feelings on the subject into words.

Now back to the review.

Overall, pick this up from the library. I wouldn't want anyone to buy a book that they can't stomach reading. If you can tolerate the style, it's worth picking up.

B

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Category: Adult
276 Pages

Lil is an old woman who spends her days shelving rare books in a tiny Manhattan bookstore and lonely nights at home in her apartment. But Lil has an intriguing secret. Tucked and bound behind her back are white feathery wings–the only key to who she once was: the fairy godmother responsible for getting Cinderella to the ball to unite with her Prince Charming.

But on that fateful night, something went terribly and beautifully wrong. Lil allowed herself the unthinkable: to feel the emotions of human beings and fall in love with the prince herself, going to the ball in place of Cinderella in her exquisitely gorgeous human guise. For her unforgivable mistake, she was banished to live among humans, far from her fairy sisters and their magical underwater world. But then one day she meets Veronica–a young, fair-skinned, flame-haired East Village beauty with a love of all things vintage and a penchant for falling in love with the wrong men–and suddenly it becomes clear to Lil that she’s been given a chance at redemption. If she can find a soul mate for Veronica, she may right her wrong and return to the fairy world she so deeply longs for. . . .

I want to start by saying that this book is currently being optioned for a film! I would definitely go see it if it gets that far. Godmother is a very cute story about redemption. Lil was THE fairy godmother. However, the night of the ball didn't go as planned... So, three hundred years later the fallen fairy is in modern New York and is about to stop accepting her fate.

This story had an interesting concept 'What if we didn't know the real story?', but something kept this book from being amazing. Turgeon has a fantastic writing style. It just didn't click right with me. At times while I was reading Godmother it felt like almost all I was reading were description.

The three main characters were really refreshing. Lil, George, and Victoria were very neat and quirky characters, but they didn't pull at my heart strings. I liked the take on the prince and Cinderella's story. It was depressing at times yet very interesting.

Overall, this book is a nice rainy day read. It's worth picking up from the library, but I'm note sure about buying it.

B-

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly by Alex Flinn


Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
336 Pages

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.

I picked this up from the library for two reasons: I've heard great reviews and it's going to be a movie. It's going to be an awesome movie. Flinn is an amazing story teller, taking a classic tale and putting her own spin on it. I plan on picking up other books by her soon!

The characters are awesome. Kyle begins as the guy we all love to hate. He's an arrogant sob that was raised to be just that. It was awesome watching him grow up and into Adrian. I want to meet a girl like Lindy. She seems like she'd be an amazing friend. Kendra was awesome as well - I wish there was a little bit more of her in the book.

The plot is flawless. Flinn succeeded with making the story more modern and from The Beast's point-of-view. She could have butchered the idea of the classic story, but she pulled it off! I totally recommend picking this up!

A

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV
Category: Young Adult
256 Pages

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn’t make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won’t soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won’t be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge—and over...

This book deserves awards - and a lot of them. It's an amazingly crafted story. Echols has created a masterpiece! This is one of those stories where every lose end is tied up and where everything is connected.

She created a strong cast of characters. Meg has an amazing mind with a unique voice. Her thoughts sent me into a fit of giggles a few times. Also, as the story goes on you learn why she acts the way she does. Johnafter irritated me to no end and made me really care for him (much like my own boyfriend actually). I really cared about what happened to every character. Well, except for Eric and Angie. Heck, I want to know what happens to the characters in the future.

I loved how Echols made Johnafter's and Meg's personal growth believable. It wasn't something the all of a sudden changed overnight - it was subtle at first then became obvious at the end of the book. The end of the book was perfect. It wasn't a Happily Ever After, but
it was the very beginning of one for sure.

This is a book I completely recommend buying. I'm borrowing a friend's copy, but my own is waiting for me in my shopping cart on Amazon. I'll be reading this again.

A

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Category: Young Adult (leans toward adult!)
421 Pages

Sin is Coming...Prepare to Swoon!

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him—but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will.

Only trouble is, she's in love with him.


I wish I could say Swoon blew my mind. That I loved it. Truthly, I didn't. Malkin had an amazing plot bunny which dropped acid and hopped all over the place. Some of her chapters were really jumpy. I ended up lost a couple of times and went "WTF?" a couple of times too. I'm still scratching my head over about three chapters.

Malkin did have an amazing idea. The story itself is good. Dice was a fun leading lady. I didn't like her at first, but she grew on me. I hated Sin. I understand his reason for wanting vengeance, but waiting two-hundred years to do it? Really now. Why Dice loves him is beyond me (and if anyone knows why she loves him please tell me why). I didn't like Pen either - but that's probably just because of Sin's influence.

There is a LOT of sex, drugs, and a little bit of alcohol. I know Swoon's a small town, but surely these kids had better things to do besides getting high and screwing. There is an orgy in this book - which made me wonder why this was in the teen section of my library. I'm no prude, but it was a little to much sex. Although I have to give Malkin applause for not shying away from the drugs and the sex and doing so in a non-judgmental point of view.

I'll probably read another one of her books, but I won't be picking this one up again. I just didn't enjoy this book.

C-

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Series: The Shifters
Publisher: MIRA
Category: Adult
624 Pages

From Vincent's Site:
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...


This was a fast paced and fun read. Vincent creates a very interesting world of people who transfer into cats - panthers, technically. I hope she continues to build on this world and add in more mythology to give her feline race more background.

Faythe was a fun, but predictable, character. She was hormonal, quick-tempered, and had a lot of rebellion in her. Think Rachel from the Animorphs series plus a nastier vocabulary. Marc was quite,um, angry. His jealousy about drove me nuts. I just felt bad for Jace.

I couldn't completely get into this book. It was a fun read, but something kept me from falling into the plot like I normally do. Even so, this book is worth a chance. I hope that whenever I read the three more books that Vincent has released I'll find a more mature Faythe and a plot that I can really get into. My last note is that this should only be picked up by kids in high school. There is violence, bad language, and sex throughout the book. It also deals with rape for a few chapters.

B-

Twisted by Laura Halse Anderson

Twisted by Laura Halse Anderson


Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Category: Young Adult
272 Pages

From Amazon:

Socially inept Tyler Miller thinks his senior year of high school is going to be a year like no other. After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, his reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles. Enter super-popular Bethany Milbury, sister of his tormentor, Chip, and daughter of his father's boss. Tyler's newfound physique has attracted her interest and infuriated Chip, leading to ongoing conflicts at school. Likewise, Tyler's inability to meet his volatile father's demands to be an asset, not a liability adds increasing tension. All too quickly, Tyler's life spirals out of control. In the wake of an incident at a wild party that Bethany has invited him to attend, he is left feeling completely isolated at school and alienated at home, a victim of twisted perception. Tyler must tackle the complex issues of integrity, personal responsibility, and identity on his own as he struggles to understand what it means to be a man.

Anderson is a genius author. Every single book I've read by her I've loved. Twisted is a step out of her normal zone. This is written from a guy's point-of-view. Tyler was your average geeky teenage boy - but once he decides to spray paint the school his life crumbles around him. His dad is emotionally abusive, his mom is falling apart at the seems, and his sister is starting high school.

Tyler was a good character. Since this plot is character driven, he had to be. He starts out as depressed, thinking on and off about ending his life. After his life starts spiraling out of control, he slowly begins to take control of his life and becomes a man.

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this book. This book is definitely not for anyone who hasn't entered high school. Sex is mentioned a lot. This a really short review, but I totally recommend this book. You need to form your own opinions on this book.

Plot: 8
Characters: 9
Romance: 7
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 9
Total: 41/50 (B)

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult
294 Pages

From Pike's website:
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

Wings wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting just a romance, not the action that took place at the end. I loved how Pike took a mythological creature and put her spin on it. Her faeries aren't like most mainstream ones. They are plants, basically. This could upset some fairy lovers, but I thought it was a very unique.

Pike's descriptions were so vivid in this story. My biggest hope is that in the sequel the characters become less cut-and-dry. Laurel is a very well developed character - but the others aren't as developed. David just seems to nice at this point. I wanted some jealously, not him turning a blind eye toward Tamani. Speaking of Tamani, I can't wait to learn more about him. I kept picturing him as a taller Pip from Fern Gully- minus the wings.

Overall, this is a stunning debut novel. Even if the subject isn't your favorite, you will love Pike's writing style. I have a feeling that this novel will push Pike towards becoming a huge name in the business.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 7
Characters: 7
Romance: 6
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 10
Total: 38/50 (C)

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Series: The Immortals
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Young Adult
284 pages

From Amazon:
Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...


Note: Yes, this is my third review in a day. I'm on a bit of a reading kick today. Plus, I'm going to have family in town this weekend so I'll be to busy to read much.


Blue Moon was tons better then Evermore. Blue Moon showed me much stronger characters and plot. I'm real excited for Shadowland which won't come out until February of 2010.

When I finished Evermore I wasn't even sure if I wanted to read this. I'm glad I sucked it up and read it. Blue Moon is so much stronger then Evermore. This time, there's a plot throughout the book. Ever is left wondering who -or what- is turning Damen from the man she loves into a boy ruled by his hormones. During this search, Ever learns she could, instead of saving and being with Damen, be with her family again.

Ever is a much stronger heroine this time. I really admire her for following her intuition. Even when everyone else is making fun of her, she stays true to herself. I also like how, unlike other heroines, she asserts herself during this book. I didn't really get a feel for Damen in the last book, but when reading about him thinking of Stacia I had to put the book down for an hour or so. Without giving away to much, Roman is interesting to say the least. I hope in the next book Ever drops Haven as a friend.

The pace is really good in this book. It seems to drag a little bit at times, but I got the sense that it was important for it to drag. Although I really think that Noel should tune-down Damen and Ever's PDA. If I saw two of my friends acting like that (constantly!) I think I'd be sick. Now I'm stuck here wondering - what's next for Ever and Damen? Even if you hated the first novel, the second installment of The Immortals is worth another look.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 9
Characters: 8
Romance: 4
Writing style: 8
Originality/Memorable: 10
Total: 39/50 (C+)

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Series: The Immortals
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Young Adult
301 Pages



Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.
Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

I want to start by saying this is one of my favorite book covers ever. It's gorgeous!

I thought this was a good book that has a ton of potential. Only three things keep this from being a fantastic book. The first being the Immortals themselves. I think Noel should have fleshed them out a little bit more and given us more of an idea about what they are. The second being how jumpy the writing is at times. There's one scene toward the end that really bugs me, but I don't want to spoil anything. The final thing that bugs me is how, before you really get to know Ever, she seems mary-sue like with how she ended up able to read minds, see auras, and talk to the dead.

With those three things aside, I did really like this book. While it took a while for the climax of the story to finally show up, it was worth the wait to see who was messing with everyone. Most of the characters are interesting.

I had a love/hate relationship with Ever. She made a good narrator for most of the book, but at other times I felt like I wanted to strangle her. I didn't like Noel's choice to make her a mild alcoholic at all. My dad's an alcoholic himself so the way Ever was able to push past it with barely blinking an eye bugged me. I mean, I've seen what it does to people. I loved Ever's little ghost sister Riley. She was probably my favorite character with how much she had to deal with. What about Ever's love interest,Damen? I have nothing to say on him since he was so guarded I couldn't really get a sense of who he was.

This book was pretty good. It seemed a little Twilight-esqe in a way. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or just wants to try something a little different. I can easily see how some people could love this book, but it didn't quite appeal to me in the right way. In a few minutes I'll start Blue Moon to see what happens next.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
Writing style: 6
Romance: 6
Originality/Memorable: 7
Total: 32/50 (C)

Rumors by Anna Godberson

Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godberson

Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Young Adult
423 Pages

Summary from Amazon:
True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. Welcome back to Manhattan, 1899.

As rumors fly about the untimely demise of New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, all eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her sister, Diana, the family's only hope for redemption; Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind; even Elizabeth's former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.


This one was a lot better then it's predecessor. The characters were far better developed this time around. The plot seemed to move faster this time around. It still dragged on at times, but at least the entire novel didn't drag

This time, I liked all the characters save for a few. Diana was probably my favorite character this time around. I even liked Henry this time since he was so torn. Elizabeth is also easier like this time around as she's happy with Will. Penelope is just as evil and conniving in this novel, if not more so. With Lina, I don't know if I'm hoping she falls hard of if she succeeds with becoming like all the famous ladies.

I hated the ending of this book. It just seemed way to rushed. While I liked this one way more then I liked The Luxe, I'm not sure if I can stand to read another one. I wish I could like this series more, but for some reason I just can't get into them. I might read the last two just to see how the mess these girls are making of their lives sorts out.

Three out of five stars