September Books: Reviewed 10 Books/Series
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
Start Date: September 26th
End Date: September 29th
STARS: 5!!
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA Death, YA Mental Illness
REVIEW: Perfect by Ellen Hopkins is the companion novel to Impulse. Impulse told us about Connor, a twin in a family who wants nothing less than perfection or else be a failure, and was driven to try and commit suicide. Now, with Perfect, We hear about Cara's, Connor's twin, side. We're also told about Kendra, an aspiring teen model who's pushing her body to a deathly limit. Sean, Cara's boyfriend who's pushing to be the star of baseball and go to Stanford with Cara. And Andre, an African-American who's passion is dance, but who's parents want him to be a success, not a ''gay''. Can they achieve perfection, or fail themselves?
Oh how I was so excited to see this book sitting on my "holds" shelf! Impulse one of my top faves with Hopkins, and this one ranks fairly close. I felt like Hopkins was like a conductor (sorry for the bad analogy). The beginning for a while was a soothing strings section with an undertone of brass, then they fade out for the percussion section to thunder through like a large earthquake, shaking up the characters' lives, until the strings come back to overtake the percussion to join together with the one instrument out of tune and make magic with the bad. I wanted to set the book down, because that percussion uproar of catastrophe got so bad, it tugged at my heartstrings. Cara, stuck trying to find her identity with her relentless parents pushing her for perfection. Kendra, focusing too much on her career instead of the divorce of her parents to the point where she may die. Sean, struck in the world of steroid use and having it affect his and Cara's relationship and risking his career. Andre, who's passion for dance isn't appreciated by his parents and lives in a world of heavy stereotypes. I loved Kendra, through and through, Cara towards the middle and end, Sean towards the end, and Andre never got me.Now this is not because he is African-American, but rather that dance doesn't interests me. I did feel sympathy towards him about the incident with his girlfriend's father.
I just really thought the beginning was a bit dull and long, but still good in the middle and best at the end. I would, however, have liked a sequel rather than a companion novel, so we could follow the lives of Connor's friends and family. Recommended for Hopkins fans and verse book lovers!
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End Date: September 29th
STARS: 5!!
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA Death, YA Mental Illness
REVIEW: Perfect by Ellen Hopkins is the companion novel to Impulse. Impulse told us about Connor, a twin in a family who wants nothing less than perfection or else be a failure, and was driven to try and commit suicide. Now, with Perfect, We hear about Cara's, Connor's twin, side. We're also told about Kendra, an aspiring teen model who's pushing her body to a deathly limit. Sean, Cara's boyfriend who's pushing to be the star of baseball and go to Stanford with Cara. And Andre, an African-American who's passion is dance, but who's parents want him to be a success, not a ''gay''. Can they achieve perfection, or fail themselves?
Oh how I was so excited to see this book sitting on my "holds" shelf! Impulse one of my top faves with Hopkins, and this one ranks fairly close. I felt like Hopkins was like a conductor (sorry for the bad analogy). The beginning for a while was a soothing strings section with an undertone of brass, then they fade out for the percussion section to thunder through like a large earthquake, shaking up the characters' lives, until the strings come back to overtake the percussion to join together with the one instrument out of tune and make magic with the bad. I wanted to set the book down, because that percussion uproar of catastrophe got so bad, it tugged at my heartstrings. Cara, stuck trying to find her identity with her relentless parents pushing her for perfection. Kendra, focusing too much on her career instead of the divorce of her parents to the point where she may die. Sean, struck in the world of steroid use and having it affect his and Cara's relationship and risking his career. Andre, who's passion for dance isn't appreciated by his parents and lives in a world of heavy stereotypes. I loved Kendra, through and through, Cara towards the middle and end, Sean towards the end, and Andre never got me.Now this is not because he is African-American, but rather that dance doesn't interests me. I did feel sympathy towards him about the incident with his girlfriend's father.
I just really thought the beginning was a bit dull and long, but still good in the middle and best at the end. I would, however, have liked a sequel rather than a companion novel, so we could follow the lives of Connor's friends and family. Recommended for Hopkins fans and verse book lovers!
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Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
Start Date: September 25th
End Date:September 26th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA Paranormal, YA Verse
REVIEW: Chasing Brooklyn is the story of Brooklyn and Nico, both affected by Lucca's death in a car accident. Brooklyn was Lucca's girlfriend and a budding artist, until he died. She stopped drawing and kept a journal filled with letters to her boyfriend. Nico was Lucca's brother, now feeling like his family wanted him to die instead of Lucca. Now, a year since Lucca's death, Lucca's friend, Gabe, dies of a drug overdose, making it the 3rd student death in the school, along with Jackson's death. Now, whenever Brooklyn closes her eyes, she sees Gabe, haunting her dreams, trying to tell her something, and Gabe is being haunted buy her brother, Lucca, too. Lucca's ghost is telling Nico to help Brooklyn, but how? Can Nico help Brooklyn at all? Can Nico be helped too?
Ok, I found the title to be annoying after I finished the book. "Chasing Brooklyn" sounds like a deep and mysterious title that makes you think of something happening to the protagonist's past. Well, that's what I thought anyway. Now, post-book, the title seems stupid! No one is chasing Brooklyn! Nico isn't. Ok, maybe a little, but not enough to dominate the title! And I have no idea what the book should be called instead. The title just annoys me! Anyways, I am a sucker for verse books! However, with only 2 main characters, the poetry just flips back and forth, which gets a little boring. I also had a hard time remembering what Nico's poetry looked like and Brooklyn's. Now, I liked the background of the story! I love dark realistic fiction, and I loved to see how Brooklyn and Nico live after such a devastating blow! I enjoyed the haunting, even though its kind of a large concept to grasp in such a realistic book. I just wish there was more background on Gabe, rather than leave it for the end. Recommended for Realistic Fiction lovers and Ellen Hopkins fans!
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End Date:September 26th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA Paranormal, YA Verse
REVIEW: Chasing Brooklyn is the story of Brooklyn and Nico, both affected by Lucca's death in a car accident. Brooklyn was Lucca's girlfriend and a budding artist, until he died. She stopped drawing and kept a journal filled with letters to her boyfriend. Nico was Lucca's brother, now feeling like his family wanted him to die instead of Lucca. Now, a year since Lucca's death, Lucca's friend, Gabe, dies of a drug overdose, making it the 3rd student death in the school, along with Jackson's death. Now, whenever Brooklyn closes her eyes, she sees Gabe, haunting her dreams, trying to tell her something, and Gabe is being haunted buy her brother, Lucca, too. Lucca's ghost is telling Nico to help Brooklyn, but how? Can Nico help Brooklyn at all? Can Nico be helped too?
Ok, I found the title to be annoying after I finished the book. "Chasing Brooklyn" sounds like a deep and mysterious title that makes you think of something happening to the protagonist's past. Well, that's what I thought anyway. Now, post-book, the title seems stupid! No one is chasing Brooklyn! Nico isn't. Ok, maybe a little, but not enough to dominate the title! And I have no idea what the book should be called instead. The title just annoys me! Anyways, I am a sucker for verse books! However, with only 2 main characters, the poetry just flips back and forth, which gets a little boring. I also had a hard time remembering what Nico's poetry looked like and Brooklyn's. Now, I liked the background of the story! I love dark realistic fiction, and I loved to see how Brooklyn and Nico live after such a devastating blow! I enjoyed the haunting, even though its kind of a large concept to grasp in such a realistic book. I just wish there was more background on Gabe, rather than leave it for the end. Recommended for Realistic Fiction lovers and Ellen Hopkins fans!
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Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Start Date: September 18th
End Date: September 23rd
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Realistic, YA Death, YA Romance
REVIEW: Twenty Boy Summer is the story of two friends, Anna and Frankie, who are close friends and neighbors. Nothing could separate them. Not even Frankie's brother's death, Matt. But Anna has a secret from her best friend. She was in love with Matt before he died, and they were inseparable. Now, with the 1 year anniversary of Matt's death and the annual California Retreat coming up, secrets are threatened to be revealed. Frankie seems to be fine with Matt's death and the trip as the dates come up, and Frankie wants to get rid of Anna's virginity, oddly named "Anna's Albatross" or "A.A", and hook up with 20 guys all while in California. But is the trip going to blow up in everyone's faces? Could the trip destroy Anna's and Frankie's relationship?
My first look at the book, judging by the cover and teaser, made me think "Oh, boy. a romance-y, mushy book." and I am not a fan of romance! I hesitated to read the book, but eventually, I picked it up and read it. It wasn't what I thought at all. It turned out to be in my favorite genre, darker YA realistic, and I loved it! I laughed in this book, I cried in this book, I wanted to read this book than do schoolwork! There weren't too many romance scenes, but the ones that were there were really good. I would've given the book 5 stars, but Anna's parents and the fact that Anna wouldn't stick up for her friend's parents, annoyed me enough to give it 4 1/2. I also enjoyed the sea glass ties in the book. There's always a cheesy item in a romance book, but the sea glass was pretty cool. Recommended for YA Realistic lovers.
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End Date: September 23rd
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Realistic, YA Death, YA Romance
REVIEW: Twenty Boy Summer is the story of two friends, Anna and Frankie, who are close friends and neighbors. Nothing could separate them. Not even Frankie's brother's death, Matt. But Anna has a secret from her best friend. She was in love with Matt before he died, and they were inseparable. Now, with the 1 year anniversary of Matt's death and the annual California Retreat coming up, secrets are threatened to be revealed. Frankie seems to be fine with Matt's death and the trip as the dates come up, and Frankie wants to get rid of Anna's virginity, oddly named "Anna's Albatross" or "A.A", and hook up with 20 guys all while in California. But is the trip going to blow up in everyone's faces? Could the trip destroy Anna's and Frankie's relationship?
My first look at the book, judging by the cover and teaser, made me think "Oh, boy. a romance-y, mushy book." and I am not a fan of romance! I hesitated to read the book, but eventually, I picked it up and read it. It wasn't what I thought at all. It turned out to be in my favorite genre, darker YA realistic, and I loved it! I laughed in this book, I cried in this book, I wanted to read this book than do schoolwork! There weren't too many romance scenes, but the ones that were there were really good. I would've given the book 5 stars, but Anna's parents and the fact that Anna wouldn't stick up for her friend's parents, annoyed me enough to give it 4 1/2. I also enjoyed the sea glass ties in the book. There's always a cheesy item in a romance book, but the sea glass was pretty cool. Recommended for YA Realistic lovers.
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Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Start Date: September 14th
End Date: September 17th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Fantasy, YA Werewolves, Ya Romance
REVIEW: In Forever, the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, we find out what happened to Grace after the dramatic conclusion in Linger. First, *SPOILER ALERT* for those who haven't read Book 1 and 2! It can't be helped! Grace has finally let the wolf inside her out and Sam still lives with the ever annoying, Cole St. Clair. But after running with the pack for a while. Grace's body has finally shifted back. Now Sam and Grace can be together! Right? No. After discovering another dead body in the forest, the police of Mercy Falls and Tom Culpepper have decided to take out the pack entirely. With Grace's body still unstable, the wolves and her are in danger. Can Cole discover a cure for the wolves before time runs out. Is Beck who Sam really thinks he is? And with Grace back, will she stay missing and "dead"?
I am heartbroken to writhe this review! I love the series and I'm hating on Stiefvater for ending the series!!!! The book was similar to what I thought of Linger; A good intro, a dragging and lagging middle, to descending into a dramatic and fantastic end! However, I didn't feel Forever was like a pressure-written book by her publicist. Maybe a bit in the middle in some parts, but Linger just was completely pressure-written. I felt confused in some places in the middle, as some detail must have been edited out, but stuff pertaining to that detail kept in. I still love Sam and Grace's romance, but I felt Stiefvater held back on it! A lot less of it than in Shiver! I think Shiver was the best book in the Trilogy All in all, just skim the middle, but not entirely, to maybe Chapter Forty-One and it will pick up around there. Recommended for Mercy Falls Lover, and those into werewolves!!! And I must include this quote! And it does contain some sensitive material!
"When I started everything, and by everything, I mean life, suicide was a joke. If I have to ride in that car with you, I'll slash my wrists with a butter knife. It was as real as a unicorn. No, less than that. It was as real as the explosion around and animated coyote. A hundred thousand people threaten to kill themselves every day and make a hundred thousand other laugh, because like a cartoon, it's funny and meaningless. Gone before you even turn off the TV.
Then it was a disease. Something other people got, if they lived someplace dirty enough to get the infection under their nails. It was not a pleasant dinner table conversation, Cole, and like the flu, it only killed the weak. If you'd been exposed, you didn't talk about it. Wouldn't want to put other people off their feed." Forever, Chapter Fifty.
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End Date: September 17th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Fantasy, YA Werewolves, Ya Romance
REVIEW: In Forever, the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, we find out what happened to Grace after the dramatic conclusion in Linger. First, *SPOILER ALERT* for those who haven't read Book 1 and 2! It can't be helped! Grace has finally let the wolf inside her out and Sam still lives with the ever annoying, Cole St. Clair. But after running with the pack for a while. Grace's body has finally shifted back. Now Sam and Grace can be together! Right? No. After discovering another dead body in the forest, the police of Mercy Falls and Tom Culpepper have decided to take out the pack entirely. With Grace's body still unstable, the wolves and her are in danger. Can Cole discover a cure for the wolves before time runs out. Is Beck who Sam really thinks he is? And with Grace back, will she stay missing and "dead"?
I am heartbroken to writhe this review! I love the series and I'm hating on Stiefvater for ending the series!!!! The book was similar to what I thought of Linger; A good intro, a dragging and lagging middle, to descending into a dramatic and fantastic end! However, I didn't feel Forever was like a pressure-written book by her publicist. Maybe a bit in the middle in some parts, but Linger just was completely pressure-written. I felt confused in some places in the middle, as some detail must have been edited out, but stuff pertaining to that detail kept in. I still love Sam and Grace's romance, but I felt Stiefvater held back on it! A lot less of it than in Shiver! I think Shiver was the best book in the Trilogy All in all, just skim the middle, but not entirely, to maybe Chapter Forty-One and it will pick up around there. Recommended for Mercy Falls Lover, and those into werewolves!!! And I must include this quote! And it does contain some sensitive material!
"When I started everything, and by everything, I mean life, suicide was a joke. If I have to ride in that car with you, I'll slash my wrists with a butter knife. It was as real as a unicorn. No, less than that. It was as real as the explosion around and animated coyote. A hundred thousand people threaten to kill themselves every day and make a hundred thousand other laugh, because like a cartoon, it's funny and meaningless. Gone before you even turn off the TV.
Then it was a disease. Something other people got, if they lived someplace dirty enough to get the infection under their nails. It was not a pleasant dinner table conversation, Cole, and like the flu, it only killed the weak. If you'd been exposed, you didn't talk about it. Wouldn't want to put other people off their feed." Forever, Chapter Fifty.
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Amazing Agent Luna by Nunzio Defilippis
Start Date: September 10th
End Date: September 14th
STARS: 5!
GENRE: Manga, Graphic Novel, Sci-fi
REVIEW:(the first 3 books) Amazing Agent Luna is about Luna, a girl genetically grown, tested, and trained in a secret government base to become the perfect agent. She's completed many missions, but will this next one be the one to expose her and ruin her training? After completing a mission to recover files, her next mission is to attend High School! The files tie to the students of the school, but why? Luna and her bosses, Control and Dr. Andy, must go undercover as a family with a daughter in High School. But after being secluded in a government base, can she handle the mission, or will her lack of not knowing society expose her?
I loved this book! An agent grown in a lab, trained to be the best spy ever? Amazing plot! Then just dropping her into High School, a vicious place, and expecting her to swim and not sink? Usually I hate those kind of books where it's like Boy meets Girl and Girl or Boy has no Idea about Romance and Acts Stupid, but this book is different! The animation is phenomenal and the character well developed. My only complaint is that I couldn't tell the difference for some characters. Recommended for Anime lovers!
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End Date: September 14th
STARS: 5!
GENRE: Manga, Graphic Novel, Sci-fi
REVIEW:(the first 3 books) Amazing Agent Luna is about Luna, a girl genetically grown, tested, and trained in a secret government base to become the perfect agent. She's completed many missions, but will this next one be the one to expose her and ruin her training? After completing a mission to recover files, her next mission is to attend High School! The files tie to the students of the school, but why? Luna and her bosses, Control and Dr. Andy, must go undercover as a family with a daughter in High School. But after being secluded in a government base, can she handle the mission, or will her lack of not knowing society expose her?
I loved this book! An agent grown in a lab, trained to be the best spy ever? Amazing plot! Then just dropping her into High School, a vicious place, and expecting her to swim and not sink? Usually I hate those kind of books where it's like Boy meets Girl and Girl or Boy has no Idea about Romance and Acts Stupid, but this book is different! The animation is phenomenal and the character well developed. My only complaint is that I couldn't tell the difference for some characters. Recommended for Anime lovers!
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Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Start Date: September 8th
End Date: September 13th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: YA Romance, YA Sci-Fi, YA Adventure
REVIEW: Delirium is the story of Lena Haloway, a 16 year old girl in the future city of Portland, Maine, where people are Cured and safe from Amor Deliria Nervosa- Love. All 18 year olds are Cured on their birthday by a surgery to remove the part of brain that is susceptible to Deliria- unless they become Infected before. Lena loves her sheltered life, until during her Evauation, she meets Alex. Alex is a 19 year old Cured guard- or is he? Alex turns out to be Lena's worst fear- an Invalid, who is someone Uncured. Will Lena risk her life and lifestyle to be with her love? Or will Lena be Cured and forget about Alex?
I am not looking forward to this review! I love the concept and Dystopian theme though! A world where Love is a disease, marriages are arranged, the stereotypes are heightened, and the world is segregated. I loved it all- until the romance stepped in. I don't prefer romance novels and this was hard for me. I like that Alex and Lena were breaking the law to be together, but it just got long for me. I wanted to explore more of the Dystopian theme! I don't care for a chapter about how she feels when she's with Alex! The middle of the book was slow for me but the beginning and a lot of the end just was fabulous. I would say to skim the middle if it's not your thing, romance. You wont miss much. Recommended for those who can tolerate romance novels and love Dystopian themes! And this is my favorite quote from the book:
"One of the strangest things about life is that it will chug on, blind and oblivious, even as your private world- your little carved-out sphere- is twisting and morphing, even breaking apart. One day you have parents; the next day you're an orphan. One day you have a place and a path. The next day you're lost in the wilderness.
And still the sun rises and clouds mass and drift and people shop for groceries and toilets flush and blinds go up and down. That's when you realize that most of it- life, the relentless mechanism of existing- isn't about you. It doesn't include you at all. It will thrust onward even after you've jumped the edge. Even after you're dead." Delirium, Chapter 19.
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End Date: September 13th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: YA Romance, YA Sci-Fi, YA Adventure
REVIEW: Delirium is the story of Lena Haloway, a 16 year old girl in the future city of Portland, Maine, where people are Cured and safe from Amor Deliria Nervosa- Love. All 18 year olds are Cured on their birthday by a surgery to remove the part of brain that is susceptible to Deliria- unless they become Infected before. Lena loves her sheltered life, until during her Evauation, she meets Alex. Alex is a 19 year old Cured guard- or is he? Alex turns out to be Lena's worst fear- an Invalid, who is someone Uncured. Will Lena risk her life and lifestyle to be with her love? Or will Lena be Cured and forget about Alex?
I am not looking forward to this review! I love the concept and Dystopian theme though! A world where Love is a disease, marriages are arranged, the stereotypes are heightened, and the world is segregated. I loved it all- until the romance stepped in. I don't prefer romance novels and this was hard for me. I like that Alex and Lena were breaking the law to be together, but it just got long for me. I wanted to explore more of the Dystopian theme! I don't care for a chapter about how she feels when she's with Alex! The middle of the book was slow for me but the beginning and a lot of the end just was fabulous. I would say to skim the middle if it's not your thing, romance. You wont miss much. Recommended for those who can tolerate romance novels and love Dystopian themes! And this is my favorite quote from the book:
"One of the strangest things about life is that it will chug on, blind and oblivious, even as your private world- your little carved-out sphere- is twisting and morphing, even breaking apart. One day you have parents; the next day you're an orphan. One day you have a place and a path. The next day you're lost in the wilderness.
And still the sun rises and clouds mass and drift and people shop for groceries and toilets flush and blinds go up and down. That's when you realize that most of it- life, the relentless mechanism of existing- isn't about you. It doesn't include you at all. It will thrust onward even after you've jumped the edge. Even after you're dead." Delirium, Chapter 19.
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Legal Drug by CLAMP
Start Date: September 9th
End Date: September 9th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: Manga Yaoi, Graphic Novel, Manga Shojo
REVIEW: (For all 3 books) Legal Drug is the story of Kazahaya Kudo, a man with a gift. Anything he touches, he sees visions about the object or person.Book one tells how Kudo came to be in this situation. After being found, dying in the streets, by Rikuo, he became roomates with him and works at the Green Drug Pharmacy with Rikuo, where his boss, Kakei, sends the two of them on missions for him that only Kudo could handle. Book two tells how Kakei sends the duo during one of Tokyo's matsuri (a festival) to find a magical vase, which has the power to bend time and reality and mislead its hunter. Book three tells of a mission at a boarding school for boys. A client wants the school's precious and famous ring. As for why, the duo doesn't know. After enrolling, Kudo becomes the top guy in school and, in its tradition, is selected to compete to be the "bride" for the school. Will they still get the ring, or become unfocused?
My favorite book in the series would be Book three, because the school tale was funny! The animation is good. Not the best that I'd like, but the storyline is strong and very entertaining. However, I don't understand the title. There are no drugs involved, except for some menthol, but no marijuana! So just ignore the weed leafs on the book. Recommended for Yaoi lovers, and you'd know if you are one.
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End Date: September 9th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: Manga Yaoi, Graphic Novel, Manga Shojo
REVIEW: (For all 3 books) Legal Drug is the story of Kazahaya Kudo, a man with a gift. Anything he touches, he sees visions about the object or person.Book one tells how Kudo came to be in this situation. After being found, dying in the streets, by Rikuo, he became roomates with him and works at the Green Drug Pharmacy with Rikuo, where his boss, Kakei, sends the two of them on missions for him that only Kudo could handle. Book two tells how Kakei sends the duo during one of Tokyo's matsuri (a festival) to find a magical vase, which has the power to bend time and reality and mislead its hunter. Book three tells of a mission at a boarding school for boys. A client wants the school's precious and famous ring. As for why, the duo doesn't know. After enrolling, Kudo becomes the top guy in school and, in its tradition, is selected to compete to be the "bride" for the school. Will they still get the ring, or become unfocused?
My favorite book in the series would be Book three, because the school tale was funny! The animation is good. Not the best that I'd like, but the storyline is strong and very entertaining. However, I don't understand the title. There are no drugs involved, except for some menthol, but no marijuana! So just ignore the weed leafs on the book. Recommended for Yaoi lovers, and you'd know if you are one.
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Abandon by Meg Cabot
Start Date: September 6th
End Date: September 8th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Paranormal, YA Romance, YA Mythological
REVIEW: Abandon is the story of Pierce Oliviera, a normal 17 year old girl, a senior in high school. Except for one thing. She had an NDE, a Near-Death Experience, two years ago, and she didn't see a light. Now, 2 years later, she still sees John, from the Underworld, her parents are divorcing, and her new high school thinks she mauled an old teacher. But just as she moved in to her home with her mom, a cemetery is violated, and John is ignoring her. Are the Furies, the Underworld's bosses, after John and her? Is the cemetery sexton really who he is? Will death reclaim Pierce?
This book was ok. I couldn't stop reading it though! The only problem is is that when I came to write the review, I couldn't think of the story and key points. Its more a fictional memoir with some action, but not as much as, say Rick Riordan's novels. I'm just interested on the next book in the trilogy! Recommended for Cabot fans and those interested in life after death, and Mythological views on death.
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End Date: September 8th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Paranormal, YA Romance, YA Mythological
REVIEW: Abandon is the story of Pierce Oliviera, a normal 17 year old girl, a senior in high school. Except for one thing. She had an NDE, a Near-Death Experience, two years ago, and she didn't see a light. Now, 2 years later, she still sees John, from the Underworld, her parents are divorcing, and her new high school thinks she mauled an old teacher. But just as she moved in to her home with her mom, a cemetery is violated, and John is ignoring her. Are the Furies, the Underworld's bosses, after John and her? Is the cemetery sexton really who he is? Will death reclaim Pierce?
This book was ok. I couldn't stop reading it though! The only problem is is that when I came to write the review, I couldn't think of the story and key points. Its more a fictional memoir with some action, but not as much as, say Rick Riordan's novels. I'm just interested on the next book in the trilogy! Recommended for Cabot fans and those interested in life after death, and Mythological views on death.
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Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
Start Date: September 2nd
End Date: September 6th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance
REVIEW: Magic Burns is the continuation to the Kate Daniels series. Kate has decided, after not having much of a steady income, to join the Order, something she isn't thrilled about. After going on another mission with her were-friend Jim and coming back with a corpse stuck with arrows from someone else, Kate sets out to find the Bowman and stumbles onto another mystery. Julie's mom is apart of a coven that disappeared and wants Kate to find her, sending Kate on another adventure with things being not as they seem. Is the mysterious Bowman the real enemy here? What will happen to little Julie? And are her friends not as they seem?
I still found the series and book to be OK. But just really OK. I enjoy the story, but I just can't picture where and what is going on around Kate, which is why I'm not a big fan of fantasy. Despite that, The characters are greatly structured, the storyline interesting, and a thrilling book. If there is one thing I question about this book is why on page 199, there is the Pi symbol inserted into the word "responsibility"! Recommended to Fantasy lovers and those who already started the series.
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End Date: September 6th
STARS: 3 1/2
GENRE: Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance
REVIEW: Magic Burns is the continuation to the Kate Daniels series. Kate has decided, after not having much of a steady income, to join the Order, something she isn't thrilled about. After going on another mission with her were-friend Jim and coming back with a corpse stuck with arrows from someone else, Kate sets out to find the Bowman and stumbles onto another mystery. Julie's mom is apart of a coven that disappeared and wants Kate to find her, sending Kate on another adventure with things being not as they seem. Is the mysterious Bowman the real enemy here? What will happen to little Julie? And are her friends not as they seem?
I still found the series and book to be OK. But just really OK. I enjoy the story, but I just can't picture where and what is going on around Kate, which is why I'm not a big fan of fantasy. Despite that, The characters are greatly structured, the storyline interesting, and a thrilling book. If there is one thing I question about this book is why on page 199, there is the Pi symbol inserted into the word "responsibility"! Recommended to Fantasy lovers and those who already started the series.
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What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Start Date: August 29th
End Date: September 2nd
STARS: 3
GENRE: Adult Contemporary, Women's fiction, Romance
REVIEW: What Alice Forgot is the story of Alice, a twenty-nine year old woman who's young and in love with her beau, Nick, and expecting their first child. So imagine her surprise when she wakes up on the floor of a gym, which she hates, and her friend standing over her looking old! After being taken to the hospital, she learns that a decade has passed and she can't remember it! And she's divorcing her thought-to-be lovely husband! Alice now has to cope with understanding what happened to her in 10 years that's fractured her marriage, her family, and her life. How did she get 3 kids? Can Alice repair her life after the damage being a bitter woman has done? Is her lovely partner who was the sun to her back in 1998 going to leave her?
I can't say I hated this book, but I didn't love it either. Honestly, It reminded me of that dead sitcom called The New Adventures of Old Christine. She just is kind of going around and you just know what will come. She doesn't remember the person, she doesn't remember the action, lather, rinse, repeat! It also kind of bugged me that is was in Australia, no offense to the Aussies. It's kind of hard to follow the terminology in some places. I don't think the book could be cut down in size, because it doesn't run in detail as much as it just runs in the storyline. The characters are great, and this book dives into the scary stuff too. Divorce, grief, infertility! I also enjoyed the depth the author went into the storyline, to make it go into the late 90's and stretch to 2008 with all the detail. It's like the author went through the amnesiac process. Recommended for a more mature audience only because its a complex book in some ways and its definitely a chick book with all the romance.
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End Date: September 2nd
STARS: 3
GENRE: Adult Contemporary, Women's fiction, Romance
REVIEW: What Alice Forgot is the story of Alice, a twenty-nine year old woman who's young and in love with her beau, Nick, and expecting their first child. So imagine her surprise when she wakes up on the floor of a gym, which she hates, and her friend standing over her looking old! After being taken to the hospital, she learns that a decade has passed and she can't remember it! And she's divorcing her thought-to-be lovely husband! Alice now has to cope with understanding what happened to her in 10 years that's fractured her marriage, her family, and her life. How did she get 3 kids? Can Alice repair her life after the damage being a bitter woman has done? Is her lovely partner who was the sun to her back in 1998 going to leave her?
I can't say I hated this book, but I didn't love it either. Honestly, It reminded me of that dead sitcom called The New Adventures of Old Christine. She just is kind of going around and you just know what will come. She doesn't remember the person, she doesn't remember the action, lather, rinse, repeat! It also kind of bugged me that is was in Australia, no offense to the Aussies. It's kind of hard to follow the terminology in some places. I don't think the book could be cut down in size, because it doesn't run in detail as much as it just runs in the storyline. The characters are great, and this book dives into the scary stuff too. Divorce, grief, infertility! I also enjoyed the depth the author went into the storyline, to make it go into the late 90's and stretch to 2008 with all the detail. It's like the author went through the amnesiac process. Recommended for a more mature audience only because its a complex book in some ways and its definitely a chick book with all the romance.
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