Book Review 24: The Maze Runner

Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids -- the Runners -- venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines.

Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman-meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?

In The Maze Runner, Dashner has crafted a creative and engaging novel that's both mysterious and thought provoking.

As it would seem it would appear that I might be the last book blogger to read this book, but as the film's out next year, I decided to jump on the bandwagon! And damn am I kicking myself hard for not reading this book sooner. Lets be honest, the Maze Runner has always been that book, I passed my book shelve and labeled 'next time" then I saw Dylan O'Brian as Thomas and well… eye candy is really motivational.

The prime reason The Maze Runner wasn't an automatic read was because of its lack of romance. As an 18 year old, a book without a hint of romance is a boring book EXCEPT for this book.This was a great, no scratch that; AMAZING, intense read, that really jolts your brain into thinking. The only way this book isn't for you is if your looking for a superficial read that dulls your mind into submission. James Dashner literally drops the reader in the middle of the action as Thomas wakes up in a strange place called the Glade, unable to remember anything except his own name. He and the other adolescents there seem to be part of some kind of a grand experiment, trapped in the middle of a maze populated by horrific monsters, with one hope of finding an exit.

I'm not sure what I can say about this without spoiling anything because for you to get the full experience of this book you can't have any clues going in! All through this book I had no theories, no idea what was going on and when each layer was peeled back or something was revealed I was shocked and amazed! It is the most interesting onion you will ever peel. What I will say is this: I loved the idea of these boys living in a community, surviving on their own, but basically trying to find their way out of a maze.

James Dashner created a world very different from others in its genre.I highly enjoyed every character in the book, even the ones I wanted to strangle because they all had a purpose the ultimately led to an amazing cliffhanger. With there unique lingo that you'd normally think would annoy you, only added to the flavor to each and every character! I loved the brotherhood that was formed. This book was filled with angst, sacrifice, friendship and bravery. I will say that THERE IS NO ROMANCE, although the read can see a relationship developing between Thomas and Teresa; trust me though YOU DO NOT MISS IT ONE BIT.

The one thing that did however make this book a 4 ½ and not a 5 star read was  the Grievers -  I wish they had appeared more  scary or dangerous creatures in the book.

Needless to say, this is a gripping read. The action is frantic and the mystery of Thomas and the others' situation is suspenseful.  Definitely recommended to those who like me who wait 5 years for a kick as trip! As usual...

and for you viewing pleasure and some motivation for those who haven't read it yet… 

Book Review 23: Allegiant

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?

What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?

What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

I am still in denial that its all over. Allegiant was one of the most anticipated novels of 2013 written in duel perspectives of Tris and Tobias I couldn't hide my excitement for the life if me. It was like my own personal bible, I read it as much as possible any chance I got. 

Now that I've finished this all I can say is that it is:

WARNING: Those who suffer from a fragile heart prepare for heartbreak

Let's just start by saying: there is NO supplement for reading the book, so if you are depending on a review to finish out the series or sum up how to feel about the book; its not going to happen! Read it now and be brave.

The plot was amazing. If your a reader looking for a forgot-to-pick-up-the-kids, my-heart-just-bursted-into-thousands-of-shreads one sit read WELL YOU FOUND IT! but I'm not about to spill ALL the beans about what happened! READ THE BOOK.

Let's begin with a slow applause for our characters: they truly are what made the Divergent series great, but that's not to say there wasn't character-reader friction cause there was ... ALOT

Tris really pissed me off in this book, not because she was underdeveloped or a bad character, but because SHE WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED HER TO BE! This just goes to say: be careful about what you wish for! I know I don't make much sense but it's true, she was strong, loving and in the the end shows what true bravery is.

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

 Of course I never wanted it to end like that though! I understand the decision that she made but it shattered my heart for Christina and Tobias. They were supposed to grow old and have 29 little grand babies after everything was done!  

Oh god Tobias! 

Who knew that the jerk-instructor at the beginning of Divergent would have ever melted my heart! It seriously turned into goo. We all knew that Tobias had a past but I had no idea how deep he truly was until I was in his head. We see this new vunurable side of Four that I for one never saw coming, we saw his need for human comfort and his need for Tris.

“She taught me all about real sacrifice. That it should be done from love... That it should be done from necessity, not without exhausting all other options. That it should be done for people who need your strength because they don't have enough of their own.”

*wipes tear

and when he found out that Tris dies I died...

“But when I do feel all the strength go out of me, and I fall to my knees beside the table and I think I cry, then, or at least I want to, and everything inside me screams for just one more kiss, one more word, one more glance, one more.”

DO NOT GET ME WRONG THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THIS BOOK THAN THE SADNESS!

“You're not very nice," I say, grinning.

"You're one to talk.

"Hey, I could be nice if I tried.

"Hmm." He taps his chin. "Say something nice, then.

"You're very good-looking.

He smiles, his teeth a flash in this dark. "I like this 'nice' thing.” 

Even though it didn't the way I invisioned, I thought it was a beautiful and slightly prefect ending because it reality the character were true to them self and there was a sense of hope that everyone was going to be okay. If you know the characters then all the decisions and everything that happened was meant to be:

The girl who jumped first on initiation day, took knifes to defend her friend and risked her life to let out the truth about the video...did what she was suppose to do; be brave OR The boy with only four fears learned how to depend on other for support. He learned how to trust and when to let go. He shows us the meaning of love and the need to change.

There was just SO MUCH about this book I could't possibly fit into this one post so do yourself a favor and READ THE SERIES. I am 100% certain you will love it. From the beginning to the very last page, I was on an emotional twist of emotions. The plot of the series came into full circle as we were introduced to the new world of freedom. This post was a blink so do yourself a favor and read it

“I'll say it one last time: Be brave.” 

Waiting on Wednesday #9: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

 ***"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.***

So what book am I anxiously awaiting to read?

The Retribution of Mara Dyer By Michelle Hodkin

After the cliffhanger, I sat like a child in time-out for about twenty minutes, more or less.

And then firstly, I saw this… 

Secondly, Read this:

"The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I was covered in blood.

The second thing I noticed was that this didn’t bother me the way it should have.

I didn’t feel the urge to scream or speak, to beg for help, or even to wonder where I was. Those instincts were dead, and I was calm as my wet fingers slid up the tiled wall, groping for a light switch. I found one without even having to stand. Four lights slammed on above me, one after the other, illuminating the dead body on the floor just a few feet away.

My mind processed the facts first. Male. Heavy. He was lying face down in a wide, red puddle that spread out from beneath him. The tips of his curly black hair were wet with it. There was something in his hand.

The fluorescent lights in the white room flickered and buzzed and hummed. I moved to get a better view of the body. His eyes were closed. He could have been asleep, really, if it weren’t for the blood. There was so much of it. And by one of his hands it was smeared into a weird pattern.

No. Not a pattern. Words.

PLAY ME.

My gaze flicked to his hand. His fist was curled around a small tape recorder. I moved his fingers—still warm—and pressed play. A male voice started to speak.

"Do I have your attention?" the voice said.

I knew that voice. But I couldn’t believe I was hearing it"

And now I am died. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS.

I cannot wait unit the final installment comes out. Although as you guys might know, it's publication date has been pushed back to June 10th 2014 

Ignite Me Book Pages? WHAT?

First post of 2014, whoop!  whoop! better late than ever right? Anyways I come with gifts to the blogosphere! For those who read the title YES! You read correctly; golden star for you! Lady's and Gentleman actual pages from Ignite Me! THANK YOU FICTIONAL GODS ONCE AGAIN. Ignite Me is scheduled to be releases February 4th 2014 so get ready folks because…

Book Review #22: Carrier Of The Mark

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction

-Goodreads.com

* The Break Down:

To be honest, it wasn't the synopsis or reviews that brought me to this book BUT the cover itself. It mesmerized me completely. So naturally I picked it up and this is what I thought:

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.

It's not that this book was terrible, but there were noticeable flaws that I couldn't get passed. For one the love in this book moved lightening fast. Really, this was a great example of some serious insta-love. I mean, she-sees-the-boy-across-the-parking-lot-they-kiss-the-next-week kind. It all just felt very rushed. Even after they had gotten together, there was never that lingering sense of romance that should have been there. There have been books that had insta-love but still managed to seem believable and intriguing, But it did not work here, In a blink of an eye or couple pages their entire relationship of developed. 

And since the romance is such a huge part of the book, It was hard getting past it.

The plot on the other hand had a pretty awesome sauce paranormal aspect. I really liked the concept of the elements and the Carriers of the Mark. It was a completely different type of paranormal. And there were a few scenes in which characters went crazy with the magic that I really found well, magical. But not everything was explained so I found myself lost quite a bit.  There's a lot of talk about genetics in this book and how the ability to command the elements is a recessive gene that has to be passed between certain sexual partners to pass on to their offspring, it was uber convoluted!

On to the characters: Usually I'm a huge fan of romance in my books but like I said before neither Adam or Meagan were connectable to me .They meet. He stalks. She swoons. She loves him. He loves her. Desperately. Passionately. Completely… after knowing each other for what? about two weeks? … WHAT! Also I really didn't see much depth to their characters beside the obvious story we were given. The character I found the most interesting was Rian, just because he was so troubled. I thought maybe he had more depth than the others. Adam felt cookie cutter-ish, and Megan was generic. Adam to me was strangely needy, even more so than Megan, which was very strange considering the immense power each held in saving the world. 

Overall, The Carrier of the Mark was a bit too cliche and abrupt for my tastes.  It all seemed very familiar. Don't get me wrong, Fallon had an amazing idea for the the plot but the execution was a bit off to say the least. That's just my spiel, if what I said didn't faze your belief in this book pick it up and tell me your thoughts in the comment bar below!! After all I am just a girl with an opinion on the internet.

Book Review 21 Sentinel

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself

-Goodreads.com

* The Break Down:

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE A FRAGILE HEART. PREPARE FOR HEARTBREAK.

It’s done. My precious beloved Covenant series is over and I’m so sad to see one of my all time favorites escapes end. To say I had high expectations for the final novel of the Covenant series would be a lie; They were seriously sky high because of how much I loved every other book and it managed to exceeded every single one of my extremely and ridiculously high expectations. Armentrout gives you everything that you could ever want in the ending of ANY series. It was full of redemption,romance, fretfulness, action, and my personal favorite smart-assery. 

Alex, Aiden, Seth, Luke, Deacon, Olivia, Marcus, Caleb and Apollo. Please stand up and take a bow. Thank-you for giving me years of pure (no pun intended) unforgettable entertainment.

Alex , for one has come a long way from the first book. No longer the girl prone to stupidity, she really stands up and "pulls on her big girl panties" She’s a beautiful, fierce creature. Who really showed what it is meant to sacrifice.

'Blinking back tears, I looked away, working my throat until I was sure that, when I opened my mouth, it wasn't a sob. "I don't want to die."

"I know," Apollo said, and his voice was surprisingly gentle. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen. I haven't let you down yet have I?"

"The gods should be fighting. You know that, Apollo. This is their fight."

"This is everyone's fight," he corrected. "Because it is everyone's future."'  

OH GODS! the constant scolding  about Alex's sex life, had me rolling.

“Oh! You're one to talk!" I whirled on Apollo. "Seriously? If I was to Google 'irresponsible sexual activity', it would be your picture staring back at me!"

Apollo made a face at me—actually made a face at me like he was ten years old or something.” 

Aiden *(Pause to swoon) will forever own a piece of my heart. I know I have said this time and time again BUT authors have completely ruined every guys chance of being perfect thanks to characters like Aiden. He’s the rock that held this series together. His unwavering love and support for Alex took my breath away and made my heart ache with pure joy. He would go anywhere for Alex as proven in the end.

"And because I love you, I am willing to die to save you from that. Don't you dare take that decision away from me." 

Seth has always provoked conflicting feeling for me during this entire series, but in the end, I believe we finally got to see the very best of him. He not only does whats right but he also does whats needed from him. We see that Seth's guilt for the things that he did but we also his redemption 

“I wasn’t lying. I never wanted something like that to happen. Out of everything I have done and caused to happen... it’s the one thing I can never ask forgiveness for.”

 Not many characters are redeemed. but Seth proved himself in this book and made all the hope I had for him worth while. But don't get me wrong. SETH WAS STILL SETH. Snarky, kick-ass, arrogant…. swoon worthy.

“We need a plan," he replied.
"Wow," Seth folded his arms. "That's a unique concept."
"Seth," I hissed, shooting him a look.
"That's okay," Apollo replied, smiling at Seth in a wholly creepy "hide your kids" kind of way. "When you least expect it, I'm going to turn you into a pink flower that smells like cat pee.” 

Together these 3 characters finished out the book with a bang. Not to mention when you have a Titan and the 12 Olympians in the mix is becomes a pretty BIG bang.

READ THE BOOK!

There was just SO MUCH about this book I could't possibly fit into this one post so do yourself a favor and READ THE SERIES. I am 100% certain you will love it. From the beginning to the very last page, I was on an emotional twist of emotions. The plot of the series came into full circle as we were introduced to the new world of pures and halfs.

““They’re going to tell stories about us.”

Aiden lowered his head, kissing me softly, deeply, and so lovingly that tears pricked my 

eyes. “They already are.”” 

And just for kicks, here are my Aiden, Alex and Seth?  Who did you picture? Comment Below.

Book Review #20: The Glass Throne

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. 

If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. 

Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. 

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined

* The Break Down:

Throne of Glass introduces the reader to a beautifully crafted world. A world full of secrets and monsters just lurking just out of sight. The effortless reading makes it is easy to forget the world around you. The moment I read the summary for this book, I knew it was something I was going to fall in love with. This book is perfect for fantasy fans and it will successfully distract you for hours on end. The story line is enthralling and will keep you guessing and all of the characters are astonishing in their own way.

Celaena is in one word: kick-ass. She is incredibly strong and determined and she does not break easily. She fights through terrible circumstances and overcomes a difficult childhood only to become a feared and a notorious assassin.  She survives a year in a place where most people only last a month and when she is offered a chance at freedom she does everything she can to make sure it happens. She is an admirable character, despite some of the questionable actions in her past.

Normally love triangles drive me up the wall. I usually can easily pick which guy I like more, but I could not do that in this situation. I had an extremely hard time choosing between Dorian and Chaol. Both characters were intriguing and lovable, but each in their own distinct way. Chaol is the Captain of the Guards and he is a very closed off and serious person. However, there is also something sweet and protective about him. On the other hand, we have Dorian who is the Crown Prince. He is cocky and slightly arrogant and enjoys teasing Celaena, but he is also extremely funny and can be incredibly sweet.  I really enjoyed both characters and because they were so different it is hard for me to decide. For the majority of the book I was leaning towards Dorian, for obvious reasons BUT then Chaol would do something to tug at the heartstrings.

 So here I was at the end of the book even more confused.

 Notably, as I read the book, I had sudden feelings of deja-vu, and in the back of my mind there was something familiar about it and here it is:

If Graceling and The Selection had a baby this book would be it. How? Well lets just make a list of all the ways:

1. There is a notorious assassin who is forced by the King to do his dirty work.

Remember Kasta? the King who made her kill the threats of the kingdom

2. A gorgeous Prince.

Both Prince Maxon and Prince Dorian had me a least swooning over

3. A competition with 24 contestants to "fighting" for the Crown.

The word "fighting can be taken in two ways. In The Selection, the women fight over Maxon's heart. While Celaena is fighting to protect the Crown

4. A complicated love triangle

The love triangle between : Dorian, Chaol and Celaena : Aspen, Maxon and America; left me breathless

5. A female lead who would really doesn't want to be in said competition.

It's safe to say both America and Kasta, and Celaena had no aspirations of being in the positions that they were forced into.

Overall, The Throne of Glass is something that readers should look into. Fans of Graceling and The Selection will enjoy this book immensely. So do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Book Review #19: The Duff

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

*The Break Down:

If your a reader looking for a short, yet entertaining novel, Well hells bells you've found it!

If we are being completely honest , I started to read this book at about 10PM, thinking I would just get through a chapter and come back to it later, but that didn't happen. I stayed up until 2AM.

I loved Bianca! Even though she could be a bit whinny and frustrating at times her character was still really lovable and understandable. I don't hate her for her actions during those times when she was trying to escape the problems she had. Even if it was kinda bitchy or slutty, the author was able to make us connect with Bianca and understand what she was trying to do. As the story progressed, Bianca was able to realize things about herself and how to finally stop running away from her problems and face it. It was really amazing how noticeable her development was. She was very different from how she was on the very first part and how she turned out on the last part. Not just the way she acts but also the way she thinks. Her experiences and her past actions did change her perspective in a lot of things in a really good way.

Wesley. All right, he's a jerk and I am very well aware of that but still I really loved this guy! I love how Keplinger wrote his character. She didn't try to gloss his character by being a total good, nice guy in the end just so that everyone would like him. In fact he was still a bit of a jerk in the end but not really in a bad way. But what the author did was to make us understand why he was doing it. And I don't deny that it was still bad and awful but I also realized that it wasn't entirely his fault why he was like that. That there were really big reasons behind it. He did changed in the end, just like Bianca, he finally stopped running away and finally faced his problems. But the witty, overly confident, a bit of an a-hole Wesley was still there - which I really did like. 

There's no makeover a la She's All That. No tropetastic turning point when Bianca lets down her hair and slaps on some eyeliner and voila! she's a supermodel! No, Bianca accepts herself for the way she is -- although she does grow emotionally, which makes the book's unlikely romance believable. Under Bianca's tough-talking exterior and Wesley's wisecracking manwhore ways, they both find the vulnerability in one another, and as a result, we fall for them both.

Now on to supporting characters: 

Casey and Jessica, Bianca's best friends were also really lovable. I love Casey for being so supportive and caring. She's the kind of best friend every girl would want to have. A best friend who will always be there when you needed them, who would immediately notice if there was something wrong and would easily lend her help and her ears even if you keep on pushing them away. I love that Jessica was the one who saw that Toby wasn't really for Bianca. That she saw pass Bianca that she wasn't at all happy and that what she really want was Wesley. I would love to have best friends like this two.

Call me a hopeless romantic but I really liked the part where Welsey is chasing B, his exact words being,

"Welsey Rush doesn't chase girls, but I'm chasing you".

It was also a story of two people wanting to be seen for who they really are without forcing themselves just for the people to see that not everything can be seen by what the eyes see
Although it was filled with clićhe drama, and typical swoon worthy boys, It was a short, yet entertaining novel that caught my attention.

Waiting On Wednesday #8: Control

 ***"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.***

So what book am I anxiously awaiting to read?
Control By Lydia Kang

An un-putdownable thriller for fans of Uglies

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

Expected publication: December 26th 2013 

Aside from the totally gorgeous cover that I am  literally obsessed, the blurb for this book looks original!Future. Automatic cars, Nightclubs,  Genetically mutated hero's, Romance? This book has my attention 200%

Just ONE little favor? Please, remind me to breath while I wait for this. I'll owe you big time.

And as always don't forget to follow if you like what you see!

Book Review 18: My Life Next Door

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

* The Break Down:

As we all sadly know summer is coming to an end, And with that the new school year, also means making more more time  for my insane AP classes and less time with my long term, highly dedicated relationship with books *pause to dramatically sigh.

So whats the best way to let summer go out with a bang? 

Read a ridiculously cute and romantic summer novel obviously.

When I first saw the gorgeous cover for My Life Next Door I was expecting a light and sweet summer book. While it did feature a beautiful romance, it was also a pretty deep story about family and acceptance which I was not expecting but it worked perfectly with the story.

The writing was so amazing, and I loved the humor and the dialogue. This book had so many things going on, and I couldn’t believe the twists and turns that happened. And that ending! It broke my heart! I think Fitzpatrick did a really great job of developing the romance, which I sometimes find lacking in contemporary books. But I loved how the romance grew and was so sweet, and the writing just topped off the amazing story perfectly.

Everyone thinks Samantha Reed has it all. A perfect family, a perfect mom (who is also the state senator), a perfect house and a perfect life. But nobody knows that Samantha wishes her family could be like her neighbors, the Garretts. 

Let’s spend a while talking about these crazy Garretts, shall we? This pretty much describes a normal day at the Garrett house:

We walk into the living room to find Alice and her Brad sprawled on the brown sectional couch, Brad rubbing Alice’s feet. George is fast asleep, naked, facedown, on the floor. Patsy is wandering around in a purple terry cloth footie pajamas, plaintively saying “Boob.”

Yep, That’s them. ALL OF THEM. Loud, rioty, yet ridiculously loving and supportive. They were the perfect family dispite their size or their financial status, It was so easy to see why Sam spent most of her nights watching them.

Now on the the relationship between Samantha and Jase. It was one of the most realistic ones I have seen in a YA book. From the start as he climes onto her roof unannounced and tries to save her:

“Why would I need rescuing? This is my house, my roof?”

“I don’t know. it just hit me, seeing you there, that you might be Rapunzel. The princess in the tower thing. All the long blond hair and…well…”

“And you’d be?” I know I'm going to laugh if he says “the prince.”

Instead he answers "Jase Garrett.”

They start off as friends and actually get to know each other first before they start dating. It’s not one of those typical insta-love stories and they have to deal with some pretty serious issues such as dealing with their families and making the right choices. Seeing their love grow and blossom into something real and beautiful was such a nice thing to be able to witness.

While I loved Samantha and Jase and every single member of the Garrett clan, my favorite character was Tim, Samantha’s best friend’s brother. He starts off as a trouble maker and a stoner and a really big loser but the more time he spends with Jase and the Garretts, the more you can see how much he changes throughout the book and how hard he tries to turn his life around and although I hated him at first, he ended up as my favorite character-hands down! 

Over all My Life Next Door was so much more than a fluffy contemporary. This book is dark, sad, emotional, uplifting, romantic, and amazing. If your a reader looking for a innocent first love, I 100% recommend you check this book out! Even if it isn't summer time.

Book Review 17: Hopeless

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

*The Break Down:

There are no words.

Once in awhile a book comes along that is so powerful and emotional every single cell in your body screams with tears and laughter and happiness. Hopeless is that book.

There isn't a single thing about this book that I didn't love. It was wonderful, mesmerizing, spell-binding, heartbreaking and breathtaking all at the same time. I couldn't for one second put it down while I was reading it. I loved the MOST of the character, their sense of humor and their roles in the story and I loved the amazing writing style of the author Colleen Hoover. I found myself wanting to highlight almost every passage in it because the words were so beautiful and perfectly chosen. Hopeless was absolutely one of the best books I've read in 2013.

Meet Sky. She's not our average character. She's the kind of girl that doesn't have a Facebook account, doesn't own a cellphone and doesn't have a TV in their house. She's so isolated to technology that she thought the meaning of LOL was lots of love. She's the kind of girl that feels numb whenever she's making out with guys. She's also the kind of girl that doesn't cry and doesn't know the feeling of lust. But all of that changed the moment she met Holder.

Oh Holder * Pause to swoon, Welcome to the league of book boyfriends Holden.

“Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.” 

I was a goner; after this scene. Their love story is definitely different from all the contemporary stories that I've read. It was real, it was heartbreaking, it's definitely tragic yet it was strikingly  beautiful. I don't know how Colleen created this story or how she got this idea...

...but THANK YOU FICTIONAL GODS ABOVE. 

Now, the plot. 

It was unthinkable and screwed up yet beautiful and magical. I do have to say that it was much darker than I had expected, Hopeless is a harsh read that will clobber your heart, leaving you bloody and broken. While I did guess at a lot of the events that would occur, this novel still left me disturbed and shocked, even when I did know what was coming. It's the kind of story that is meant to leave you flabbergasted by the sudden twist of events The last half of the novel delivers some violently emotional scenes that displays exactly what kind of talent Colleen possesses to be able to embed so much power into the written word. I'm telling you, some of it took my breath away--I literally had the urge to look away until it passed, not because of anything gory (though one part is a little bit), but because of how much pain it entails. I was not expecting so much heartbreak from such a pretty blue skied cover.

The opening chapters of this book book lead you to believe that the plot will be fairly similar to an epic romance. A boy meets girl kind of thing... NOPE!

There are SO MANY twists and turns, that will leave your jaw on your lap!

Over all, Hopeless was wonderful, mesmerizing, spell-binding, heartbreaking and breathtaking all at the same time. I couldn't for one second put it down while I was reading it. Colleen possesses a unique ability to embed so much power into the written word. If your the kind of reader exploring the New-Adult, You are sure you fall head over heels for Hopeless.

Waiting On Wednesday #7: Champion

 ***"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.***

So what book am I anxiously awaiting to read?
Champion By Marie Lu

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.

She is a Prodigy.

Who will be Champion? 

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

 November 5th 2013 

Champion. Who can you trust when the greed for power takes precedence over loyalty? 

Champion is BOUND to kick some major ass, I mean after an ending like that just GIVE IT TO ME NOW BEFORE I JUMP OFF A CLIFF FROM MY FEELS. YOU DON'T DO THIS TO ME. YOU DON'T END A BOOK LIKE THAT OK. I NEEDED JUNE TO TELL DAY THAT SHE LOVED HIM. I'M NOT KIDDING THIS ISN'T UP FOR DISCUSSION . 

But really those venturing the blog-o-sphere like always...