Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Review: Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up? by Sara Hantz

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Amazon / B&N / Goodreads / Itunes
Title: Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up?
Author: Sara Hantz
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Format: ARC from Netgalley


Synopsis:

Abi Saunders might be a kickboxing champion, but when it comes to being the center of attention, she’d rather take a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus any day. So when her trainer convinces her to audition to be the stunt double for hot teen starlet Tilly Watson, Abi is shocked—and a little freaked out—when she gets the job.

Being a stunt double is overwhelming, but once the wig and makeup are on, Abi feels like a different person. Tilly Watson, to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend, Jon, mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi's completely smitten. In fact, she’s so in love with her new life, it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old one.

But when the cameras are turned off, will she discover running with the Hollywood A-list isn’t quite the glamorous existence she thought it was?

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

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Amazon / Goodreads / TBD
Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sickness, Death
Format: Paperback from Powerbooks


Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

INSIGHTFUL, BOLD, IRREVERENT, AND RAW, The Fault in Our Stars is an award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Review: Don’t Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

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Amazon / Goodreads / TBD
Title: Don’t Even Think About It
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Series: Don’t Even Think About It #1
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Chick Lit, School, Romance
Release Date: May 1, 2014
Format: eARC from Publisher via Netgalley(thank you!)


Synopsis:
Contemporary teen fiction with romance, secrets, scandals, and ESP from the author of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have).

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.


Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.


So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Review: Into The Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

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Amazon / Goodreads / TBD
Title: Into The Still Blue
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #3
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Adventure
Format: Paperback, 392 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:


Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.


Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Review: Through The Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

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Amazon / Goodreads / TBD
Title: Through The Ever Night
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #2
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Adventure
Format: Paperback, 341 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:
It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.


Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist? Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky
Amazon / Goodreads / TBD
Title: Under The Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Adventure
Format: Paperback, 376 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.
This was worse.



Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland — known as The Death Shop — are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent energy storms will. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild — a savage — and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must come together to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.


Friday, April 18, 2014

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Amazon / Goodreads / The Book Depository
Title: Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #3
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic
Format: Paperback, 408 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Amazon / Goodreads / The Book Depository
Title: Unravel Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi

Series: Shatter Me #2
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic
Format: Paperback, 461 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Amazon / Goodreads 
Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic
Format: Paperback, 338 pages
Source: bought from Powerbooks


Synopsis:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Review: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

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Amazon / Goodreads / The Book Depository
Title: Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 5/4/2010
Format: ebook(Kindle format)



Synopsis:
Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident.

So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Friday, April 4, 2014

eGalley Review: The Breakup Artist

The Breakup Artist
Amazon / Goodreads
Title: The Breakup Artist
Author: Philip Siegel
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 4/29/2014
Format: eGalley
Source: Netgalley(Harlequin Teen)

Synopsis:
Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.



One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.


No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Book Review: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4)

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Title: The Fiery Heart
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines # 4
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Romance
Published Date: 11/19/2013

The Fiery Heart the fourth book in the Bloodlines series, a spin off of the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. The series is all about Sidney Sage, an Alchemist, and her journey to discover her true self as she helps cover up the existence of Jill Dragomir and keep her safe from the Moroi rebels that wants to end her sister's reign as the Moroi Queen.
I never would’ve thought that I’d enjoy this spin-off series more than the original one. Maybe I was just a fan of Adrian and I hated seeing him heartbroken in the Vampire Academy series, but no that was not the reason. I just found this series more entertaining and more action packed.(Maybe it’s because of Sidney and Adrian’s prohibited relationship haha)

Told from two perspectives, Adrian and Sidney, this book was really amusing in many ways. After the second and third book, I have honestly forgotten about the experiment the Moroi spirit users are trying to achieve. In this 4th installment, two beliefs that were supposed to be impossible were challenged by a “recovering alcoholic” and a “caffeine addicted alchemist”.

Let’s talk about Adrian first. He has changed a LOT, and not just changed, it was like he was on a whole new level. And everything he did was all for love, which was totally different from his personality in the Vampire Academy series. Although challenged with financial instability, he still strived to be himself and change for the person he loves. He had all these tricks he never showed Rose before. The “he’s Adrian” connotation was almost gone, and everyone almost didn’t believe it. Although he tried changing, there were still some slips, because as a spirit user those were the things he can’t control. But then again just because of love, that he never would’ve imagined could overpower him, he did things he thought he would never do.

Sidney, the Alchemist/witch, has let go of her fears and embraced what her heart has always been shouting. And that is to give back the love and feelings Adrian has been giving her. Aside from this, she has succumb to her second nature, which is being a witch, and used her knowledge as an Alchemist and powers as a witch to create what could be an “antidote” to the tattoo ink the Alchemist are using. But because of the sudden appearance of her sister, and now a co-Alchemist too, she had to lie and come up with different excuses so that her sister and roommate won’t suspect her of non-Alchemist activities.

It wasn’t only Sidney and Adrian who had a lot of developments in this book, almost everyone in the “Amberwood family” had surprising changes too. I liked that part of this story because it was about time that everyone stop acting miserable and annoying. But as always every good thing comes with a price and that was what made me reaaaally frustrated with this book. The ending was really a torture since I,we, had to wait til the next book comes out. UGH.

RATING: note_thumb2[4]note_thumb2[6]note_thumb2[8]note_thumb2[10]note_thumb2[12]

Yes obviously I liked this book, but understand that right now I am having my YA/fantasy phase and I can’t hide the feels inside my heart. So do I recommend this book? YES I DO. But I suggest you read the VA series first so you won’t be confused with the other parts of the story and the characters involved. If you love the forbidden love theme and you believe that somewhere in this planet we live, supernatural things exist then try this book. Or even better try the whole series, and I hope you'll enjoy story just like how I enjoyed it.

Happy Monday friends!

Friday, March 14, 2014

Book Review: The Sound of Letting Go



This was never what I planned on reading next. I just finished The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead when I decided to read a different book. I just want to savor the 4th book in the last series that's why I decided to read a book not included in the series, thus The Sound of Letting Go.

Title: The Sound of Letting Go
Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe
Publication date: 2/6/2014
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 400

First, this is not your usual young adult novel. Second, if your thinking this is full of love and romance then I’m gonna crush your imagination, it's not. The story tells about Daisy, her love for playing the trumpet, her autistic brother Steven and her parents who are giving up his brother to child care center.

Daisy Meehan is a good daughter who loves playing the trumpet, member of a jazz band, has a crush on a bad boy, Dave Miller, and best friend to Justine Jenkins and has an autistic younger brother. For sixteen years she has never broken rule and has always been on time whenever it was her responsibility to look after her autistic brother, Steven. She believes her parents doesn't see her as their child but just an another adult in the house. Her life, or their family life, has always revolved around Steven. Looking for ways and how to's for caring and helping children with autism. Even looking for babysitter has been a problem that's why their lives has never been normal. But after a while, her parents decided it's time for Steven to be sent to a special care center. It was like sending Schizophrenics into mental institution. Daisy was furious and decided that rebellion was the only way to show her parents that she should have been consulted. She started  slacking in school, missing jazz band practice and falls for the school bad boy which was also her childhood friend Dave. But despite every changes she has done, there was one person who keeps on bringing her back, an Irish exchange student and a talented musician, Cal O'Casey.

Daisy is a character full of conflicting emotions. On the first part of the story, playing with the band or playing her trumpet was like a way of life for her. It was her only refuge every time she feels the pressure at home due to her autistic brother. But on the latter part, she suddenly changed and started wearing dark kohl eyeliners and dark nail polishes. It was like her way of rebelling to her parents so they would treat her like a child not like an another adult  in the house. She even thought of dating, what she described as “troublemaker”, Dave Miller, a childhood friend, as a way of rebelling which I find really immature. Because in the middle of dating Dave she, herself, was confused if what she felt for Dave was love or not. I actually find Daisy a bit selfish in that part. Yes her parents forgot to treat her as their child, but rebelling isn’t a way to show them that.

Actually I thought this book was full of crap about breaking up and the like, since I didn’t read the synopsis before starting this book because I want my mind raw of any ideas with this book. So when I started reading this, I thought it was really different. I even mistaken it for a book of poetry since it was written in verse and not in paragraphs, I almost stop reading. But just like Daisy Meehan, I didn’t want to give up. I pushed through and finished this book which I didn’t regret. It was a refreshing book, for me. It was different from my usual reads.

This novel actually gave me realizations in life. It was as if this book wasn’t a young adult novel, it looked like a self realization novel(if there ever was). It had a LOT of quotations that really struck me.

“Who do we love anyway? People who love us? People who care for us? People who are put in our care? Is love trust, understanding. the ability to communicate? Is it the ability to touch and be touched in return?”

“Writing stories is harder than playing music, isn’t it? Weaving together all these facts is not the same as playing a score."

“Life is a big story. Music is just one way to tell it, to realize how many tales all kinds of people share.”

“Don’t worry if you hit a bad note; just put it behind you and play the next one. Keep moving forward through the music.”

“The grief of loss-isn’t something that goes away. It just evolves.”

SO, do I recommend this? Maybe, to those who are looking for a different book that will inspire you should read this. And maybe for people who would like to read a short novel especially like today, a Friday. But for those who are hard core young adult/romance novels, no.

RATING: notenotenote

Happy weekend friends, enjoy and stay safe! Don’t forget to bring a book or two. Open-mouthed smile