Review: In the Skin of A Monster by Kathryn Barker

In the Skin of A Monster by Kathryn Barker
July 29th, 2015 · Allen & Unwin
Source: Stole from friend
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 304

What if your identical twin sister was a murderer? Does that make you a monster too? A profound, intense, heartbreaking fantasy that tackles issues of fate versus free will, and whether you can ever truly know someone.

Caught in a dreamscape, mistaken for a killer ... will Alice find a way home?

Three years ago, Alice's identical twin sister took a gun to school and killed seven innocent kids; now Alice wears the same face as a monster. She's struggling with her identity, and with life in the small Australian town where everyone was touched by the tragedy. Just as Alice thinks things can't get much worse, she encounters her sister on a deserted highway. But all is not what it seems, and Alice soon discovers that she has stepped into a different reality, a dream world, where she's trapped with the nightmares of everyone in the community. Here Alice is forced to confront the true impact of everything that happened the day her twin sister took a gun to school ... and to reveal her own secret to the boy who hates her most. 

After skimming the blurb and deciding it sounded like the perfect book to help with my slump, I went in expecting a contemporary, and soon discovered it wasn’t one. Nonetheless, it was thrilling and kept me turning the pages. So much so that I binged it in a day and if you have the time, I do think it’s a good way to read it. It's confusing at times and I feel it wouldn’t have flowed as easily had I kept stopping and starting it over the span of a few days. Plus, having been in a book slump of late, sometimes the only way to get through it is to find a good book and read for hours.

I’m not a fan of multiple point of views in a story, but this one worked for me, probably because of the story and how it’s told. Having said that, I never came to care for the characters as much as I would have liked to. Maybe because it was both very character driven and plot driven, where as normally it’s one or the other.

With Jellicoe Road levels of gripping complexity and a twisty, upside-down vibe of Alice in Wonderland, though unlike nothing I’ve ever read before, The Skin of a Monster is a brilliantly woven story. Strangely wonderful and sure to keep you on your toes; recommend.

Is this Oz YA title on your TBR? 

Oh, and while you're here, don't forget to go enter my blogoversary giveaway going on! 

Debut Twitter Chat - Save the Date!

As you probably know, I'm a huge supporter of debuts. Hence the reason I started the feature Debut Delirium this year and why I hope to continue it again in 2015. If, like me, you've been excitedly adding '15 books to your TBR, you've probably stumbled upon some of the incredible debuts set to release next year. I know I have! The thing is, I want to know more - about the debuts, these upcoming authors and more. So, I reached out to the Fearless Fifteeners about hosting a Twitter chat. And guess what? Now I'm hosting the December #15chat! Exciting, right?

Who's invited?
Everyone! It's mainly to connect 2015 debut authors with bloggers and readers and vice versa, but if you're interested in upcoming debuts, you're more than welcome to join in!

What can I expect from the chat?
In a nutshell: author chatting, book excitement and geeking out over books.

You'll have a chance to get to know up and coming authors better, add more books to your TBR and generally get more excited for the upcoming debuts. Plus, there will be a chance for authors to ask any questions they might have and for bloggers to share words of wisdom they've learned from being apart of the community.

When?
The 18th/19th of December, depending where you are! (If you're unsure of time zones, go here or Tweet @readingwishes and I'll help clear things up!)

18th Dec @ 7PM (PST)
19th Dec @ 11AM (GMT+8) -- Perth, Australia

Where?
Twitter! Find us tweeting up a storm using #15chat.

Why?
Silly question, really. Because we're excited for 2015 debuts, of course!

I'd love it if you'd be able to join us! Spread the word and if you're not fast asleep (time zones are tricky things) or booked out yet (Christmas is a busy time of year), save the date! I hope to see you there!

Review: 17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen

17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen
June 17th, 319 · Harper Collins
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Page Count: 319

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can’t seem to find a decent boyfriend. Someone who wouldn’t rather date her gorgeous best friend, Megan. Someone who won’t freak out when he learns about the tragedy her family still hasn’t recovered from. Someone whose kisses can carry her away from her backwoods town for one fleeting moment.

Until Claire meets Luke.

But Megan is falling for Luke, too, and if there’s one thing Claire knows for sure, it’s that Megan’s pretty much irresistible.

With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.

In her moving debut, Rachael Allen brilliantly captures the complexities of friendship, the struggles of self-discovery, and the difficulties of trying to find love in high school. Fans of Sarah Ockler, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins will fall head over heels for this addictive, heartfelt, and often hilarious modern love story.

17 First Kisses jumped onto my TBR list late last year, but I have to admit that while I liked the sound of it, I was on the fence. And then I read Blythe @ Finding Bliss In Books review and any hesitation I had flew out the window. I was not disappointed.

I love how layered a character Claire was. She loves soccer and kissing boys; can’t wait to leave her hometown to study medicine and has big dreams. She’s definitely one of the most honest, real characters I’ve come across in a long time.

For some, hearing that 17 First Kisses includes slut shaming will be a turnoff. I do not condone or support slut shaming, but whether we like it or not, it’s a real part of reality, especially in high school. One of the things I loved most was that the author doesn’t do the thinking for you or try to send a message. She lays it out on the page and it’s up to you what you take away from it. For instance, she doesn’t include slut shaming, then to weave in how it’s a problem and that you shouldn’t go around doing it. Rather she lets the reader think about how it’s a vicious cycle (like growing up in a household full of swearing. It’s just a matter of time until you pick up those habits) and how easily the S word is branded on a girl, yet guys mess around and are considered cool. It wasn’t until I had time to reflect and ponder that I realised the full extent of how powerful a move this was.

Friendships aren’t perfect and though I think it’s important to showcase strong, healthy relationships, it’s also important to include flawed, rocky ones, like Megan and Claire’s. I think the author perfectly nailed the messiness of complicated friendships while growing up, who at their core, are still just trying to figure out who they are. That isn’t to stay that they didn’t get under my skin though, they did. But again, that made them even more (frustratingly) realistic. Who hasn’t been annoyed by someone’s choices and actions in the past?

I’ve seen this recommended to Courtney Summers fans and while I’ve only read one of her books so far, I can see why. It’s not sugar coated and it doesn’t make apologies for being real, nor is it afraid to broach the big issues. Along with slut shaming and complicated friendships, there's also problems at home, as Claire tries to put her family back together. There's lots going on and being addressed, but I found it never took a turn for depressing. There's a lovely balance; sweet and swoon; light and dark.

I finished 17 First Kisses with the overall feeling of having really, really liked it. Then I saw down to write this review, did some more thinking and spent half the time looking into thin air, grinning like an idiot. This book will not be for everyone (heck, what book is?) and I can see it being quite controversial – the kind you love or hate. Me? I loved it.

5/5

Review: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
March 18th, 2014 · Penguin
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Page Count: 366

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you? 

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most? 

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

Side Effects May Vary was a book that sounded good, but what really made me want to read it were the early rave reviews I kept reading. Unfortunately, I can’t say I ended up loving this.

You might have heard Alice is an unlikeable MC and its true - she has many flaws and was incredibly selfish at times. The thing is, not every character is meant to be liked and I get that; some are written to frustrate you and get under your skin - Alice falls under that category. It’s a balancing act with these types of characters; some work, others don’t, and for me, Alice didn't. As for Harvey, he is a much more likeable character and I liked that he brought some sweetness to the story, balancing out Alice. But in the end, he started to annoy me, too. He was so hung up on Alice and it was hard to see why, plus he made some poor choices that ended up hurting people's feelings. Having said that, this made them feel very realistic and human, which is a plus. When it comes down to it, I'd much rather the unlikeable character with faults, who feels real and true and frustrates, than the most candy sweet character, who are flat, boring and two dimensional. With four point of views on the go - Alice and Harvey, both with Now and Then POVs - it took me quite some time to get into, but I did eventually warm up to it.

There were parts that I liked and then were some parts I really loved, that completely drew me in (looking back, these tended to be mostly set ‘then’). I really wish they had been more of the latter moments for me because the parts I loved, I loved.

I must commend Julie on doing her research about cancer and all the things that follow – for me, this was my favourite aspect. It wasn't just facts and bits of information thrown together in a messy attempt to show you she’d done her bit. You could really, truly see how much work and effort had gone into making sure the information was accurate as can be. I don't know the extent she went to – from the acknowledgments, a lot - but you could tell she’d done her homework and I really appreciated that. I think this made Alice come off the page even more because what she was going through - past and present - was not only tangibly real, but written well.

Though Side Effects May Vary wasn't my cup of tea, Julie Murphy has a rich, creative style of writing and I'll keep my eye out for her next title. Hopefully we'll get along better than we did the first time round.

2/5

Review: The Reece Malcom List by Amy Spalding

The Reece Malcom List by Amy Spalding
February 5th, 2013 · Entangled Teen
Source: Gifted (thanks Brodie!)
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 352

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

When I first stumbled upon The Reece Malcolm List, it sounded good though the cover made me hesitate. I know I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and I'm usually pretty good when it comes to these sorts of things but we look to covers for a hint as to what the book is all about and this cover gave off a very cutesy, fluffy vibe. After reading reviews from authors I highly regard and hearing what they had to say, any reservations I had disappeared.

After losing her Dad and being shipped off to live with her biological mother who she’s never met and knows nothing about except for a short list she’s compiled over the years, it’s not hard to feel for Devan. She was never close with her Dad and she’s done the moving school thing countless times but that doesn’t make Devan’s story any easier and my heart went out to her. Though at times frustrating (see: romantic relationship debacles), Devan is a great character and one who I related with. Devan’s greatest passions in life are show choir and musicals which she simply lives for and adores. I loved this aspect and thought it was a perfect addition to the story, plus it was a lot of fun to read about.

I don’t usually talk about parent characters but let’s take a minute to talk about Reece. From her foot-in-mouth syndrome; to her awkwardness; and dislike of big crowds and shopping – she definitely makes for an interesting character. At first I found it hard to understand her, especially with how distant and withdrawn she started out but the more I got to know her, the more I grew to love her.

The mood is perfection and has just the right amount of light-hearted moments mixed in with some heavier, emotional ones. It was also surprisingly moving and managed to tug at my heartstrings. The main reason for this is the mother-daughter relationship between Devan and Reece. Apart from a stepmother who wouldn’t give her the time of day, Devan’s never had a mother and Reece has never had to be one so watching them figure out their relationship and these new roles they've never had to play was just so different to how mother-daughter relationships are usually portrayed in YA which was certainly refreshing. At times painful to watch and others awkward, their relationship is like a rollercoaster and a wild one at that.

I loved The Reece Malcom List; it was heartfelt, memorable (I read this months and months ago and I still remember it well) and SUPER enjoyable. It was already on my to-read list but after such a pleasing debut from Amy Spalding, I’m really excited to read her sophomore novel which released earlier this month, Ink is Thicker Than Water.

4/5

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West
February 12th, 2013 · Harper Teen
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 343

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Pivot Point was heavily inspired by Sliding Door and while I haven’t seen the movie, you have to admit, that alone is a cool premise. So add in a futurist world, awesome powers, an amazing bunch of characters and you've got an incredible book in more ways than one.

From her love of books; to her kindergarten friend; to failing at small talk, I related with Addie on so many levels. It’s not every day you come across such an awesome main character that you connect with right off the bat but I certainly did with Addie. Of course, I can’t forget to mention Addie’s best friend, Laila! Sassy and fun, I’m really looking forward to reading from her POV in the sequel.

Pivot Point has not one but two guys yet the decision was easy: Team Trevor all the way. Likeable, sweet and a good-guy character but with depth, his and Addie’s relationship was refreshing to read and enjoyable to watch unfold; I hope there’s more where that came from!

The way the author told the story and delivered two alternate realities between chapters was award winning-worthy. Kasie handles it like a real pro but I can just imagine how many Junior Mints she would have needed to get her through it because while it was incredibly effortless to read, I can imagine it was no easy feat to write. Wit, humour and more, Kasie West is the whole writing package.

In case it isn’t clear, I loved Pivot Point a whole bunch. With this being my favourite debut of the year so far, I’m incredibly excited to read Split Second and not a moment too soon!

4.5/5

Review: One by Leigh Ann Kopans

One by Leigh Ann Kopans
June 11th, 2013 · Self-Published
Source: Author, for review
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 374

When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.

It wasn't too long ago I first stumbled upon Leigh Ann’s author blog and saw what she was working on. Her stories caught my attention and One stood out to me in particular. So fast forward a few months later to the news that One would soon be published - you can imagine I was pretty excited.

It took me a little while to get into but that might have to do with me and the fact that I’m still slowly getting out of a book slump and not so much to do with the actual book itself. Once I settled down and dedicated some time to it, I started to enjoy it.

Leigh Ann writes realistic, teenage scenes well, with just the right amount of awkward, cute and funny.  Sometimes you stumble upon scenes in YA that are just too perfect to be real and though it’s easy to be swept up in the moment and swoon your heart out, let’s be honest, real life isn't like the movies *weeps* and the author brought a sense of realism that made the book realistic.

When were first introduced to Merrin, she’s descried as petite and small, neither Super or Normal, her One is that she can hover. I happen to have a pretty good memory so I can remember books and details even if they were read several years ago. I mention this up because when I met Merrin and started forming a picture of her in my head, like you do, she reminded me of a…fairy. A spunky fairy but none the less, a fairy. (Wait? Did I just openly confess to having read a (make that multiple) fairy book? Again, it took place many years ago in a kingdom far, far away…)

In non-fairy related news, I wouldn't say I have strong feelings for the characters but I liked them enough. I related with Merrin here and there, thought Elias was sweet and together they made a cute couple. The highlight for me was probably Merrin’s Super twin brothers – they were pretty adorable and I wish they could have played a larger role.

Unfortunately, self-published books don’t have the best rep and I find that a shame, especially since when a good One (pun! get it?) comes along and it gets dismissed because of that factor. I might not have much experience with self-published titles but you can see how much effort and love Leigh Ann has put into her debut - that much is obvious. Sure, there were some weak spots that could have been more polished but I think Kopans shows real potential and if she keeps on honing those skills like all good artists should, I’m looking forward to her future work.

More times than I’d like, I’m largely disappointed by books I had been looking forward to so I’m glad to say that this wasn't the case. Superhero fan or not, supporter of the self-published or one to hesitate, I have three words for you: superhero geekiness galore!

3/5

Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt (The Royal Circle #1) by Katherine Longshore
May 15th, 2012 ∙ Viking Juvenile
Source: Author (Thank you!)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 398

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free—

and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Review:

After recently falling in love with historical stories, I’ve been eagerly anticipating any book that falls under that genre, Gilt especially. I opened the book to page one, read a few sentences and was already giddy as I knew I was in for treat!

In the beginning I found myself a tad disconnected from the story due to the language, but found that reading a few sentences or a page out loud quickly transported me right back into the story. This only occurred for a short period of time at the start, after that I had no trouble as I grew more familiar with the speech.

Set in the 1500’s, Katherine Longshore has painted a real, yet honest picture, which allows readers to get a better understanding of what it was really like back then and a behind-the-scenes look into Court.

Gilt isn’t just about glorious gowns, feasts fit for a king, jewels, glitz and glamour. It’s so much more. It deals with the challenges which females faced back then, expectations which they were supposed to meet and consequences if they disobeyed the rules, their husbands or acted unruly. And under the microscope of the Court, allowing everyone to see your mistakes, if you acted up it was even worse.

The further into this book I got, the more engrossed I became. I literally had to drag myself away as I didn’t want to stop reading.
Katherine Longshore has done a remarkable job bringing the setting to life, making it picture perfect to imagine.

If you’re a historical buff or interested in the Tudor era, I completely recommend Gilt!

Brilliant.

4/5

Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm (Elementals #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

April 24th, 2012 ∙ Kensington

Source: Won

Format: ARC

Page Count: 432

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

Review:

Before I get started on those moreish Merricks, I must mention Becca! Boy, do I LOVE this girl! Feisty, kind, tough and smart, not only is she all that and more but I had such a great connection with her! She’s the kind of character I’d love to be friends with.

The Merrick Brothers – woah! They are the definition of hotness! The story mainly revolves around Chris, however his brothers are plenty involved and you get to know, meet and crush on them many times throughout the book. The list goes on and on with reasons why I love the Merricks but one is because they are refreshingly real, with problems, troubles and hassles of their own. Also, Gabrielle packs a mean punch.

Chris is gorgeous. My, my, my am I head over heels in love! The boy is amazing, makes me swoon in delight and despite not always being on the best of terms with his brothers, he’s always got their back. He’s so caring and kind towards to Becca and it’s so sweet how he gets when he’s around her.

What can you expect from this pack of brothers? Hostility, testosterone levels off the chart and fist fights, which lead to some pretty funny moments I might add. Think there’s lots of tension between the brothers? Well just wait til you bring in an outsider from town, who takes an interest in Becca and it just adds to the fire!

I’m going to miss these characters like mad but luckily this is a series, so we haven’t heard the last of them yet!

I was grinning so much during this novel, luckily I wasn’t in a public place otherwise I would of looked like a loony!

I did suspect a few things which turned out to be true, but then again I seem to have a pretty good intuition about people and situations. However this certainly didn’t take away from the story and how much I enjoyed reading it!

Brigid Kemmerer - where did this talented, amazing lady come from! Her prose is beautiful and flows easily; it had me in a page flipping frenzy. Her characters are simply amazing and totally relatable, especially the boys of the story as they were written so spot on and true to life.  It has the perfect teenage vibe. Seriously, is Brigid a teen or something? Because it sure felt that way!

Mix in a kickass protagonist, smoking hot brothers, the elements, a thrilling plot and a good dash of swooning and you’ve got Storm!

If for some silly reason your on the fence about this book, don’t be. Go order a copy right now, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll love it just as much as I did.

5/5

WARNING: Squealing, shrieking, grinning and chuckling may occur when reading this epic book!

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture by Megan Miranda

17 January, 2012 ∙ Bloomsbury

Source: Publisher

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 262

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Review:

Fracture wastes no time, jumping straight into the story and action!

During school I’m not a very fast reader because I’m usually busy however this book was so unputdownable it had me in a craze to finish which I did in less than 24 hours!

Unfortunately I didn’t connect with the characters. Sure, I felt for them and wished that the outcome for them would be good, but apart from that nothing else. However the story was completely hooking and exciting, I let it slide because the story was so enjoyable! Delaney was frustrating at times, whilst Troy was unstable and both mentally and physically unwell; even though I understood his motives, it didn’t make up for the fact what he was doing was wrong. Out of all the characters Decker was my favourite.

Lots of twists and turns which keeps the reader on edge. One minute you think you have the story straight and the next minute your mouth is agape at what just happened. 

If your looking for a story that will hook you from start to finish and have you in the palm of your hand eager for more, Fracture is for you!

A lively, short read that I read in a flash; once I started I couldn’t stop. Emotionally provoking and completely addictive, give it a go!

3/5

Review: Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

January 10th, 2012 ∙ Disney-Hyperion

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 288

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

Review:

I was excited for, Ditched, because it sounded like a fun contemporary and a prom story gone terribly wrong. And it was definitely both those things!

A great bunch of unique characters, I especially loved Gilda and Donna – the 7-eleven ladies! Justina - the queen of jumping to conclusions, was an okay character, I just wish she had of slowed down and considered things for a minute. But then I guess if she had of done that, the story wouldn’t of been what it was.

There was never a dull moment in this book, making for a quick read. So if your looking for a story that’s fun and light hearted, pick this up!

3/5

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)

February 6th, 2012 ∙ Penguin

Source: Provided by the publisher

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 304

Review:

Saying that I was wickedly excited for, Born Wicked, would be an understatement! With it being one of my most anticipating reads of the years, I am very pleased to say it certainly lived up to my expectations!

Ever since watching Sabrina and Bewitched, I’ve been in love with witches, so when I heard about this book I straight away added it my list. I’ve heard of some books with lovely covers, but when it came to what was inside the pages it ended in a fail. So…Does it get better than the cover? It certainly does!

Strong, protective and so caring for her sisters - I instantly liked Cate. I don’t think I’ve connected and liked a main character so much in quite a long time! As for her sisters, I loved them both! Tess is adorable, innocent, sweet and so wise for her age! Even though I wanted to slap some sense into Maura, the bratty middle sister, I did care for her.

Now onto the love interests! Paul was nice, but nothing more than a friend in my opinon. As for, Finn, he’s a perfect match for Cate! They understand each other, share a love for books, especially adventure stories and see each other through rose coloured glasses, despite their faults and Cate being a witch. Protective, kind, understanding and brave, Finn is such a sweet guy!  I especially loved that he didn’t follow the crowd and had his own opinions.

The romance is fantastic! I especially enjoyed the feather scene! I won’t spoil it for you, but when you come to it, I think you’ll discover why I liked it. Enjoy!

This is the first historical book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to explore the genre a bit more!

The story Miss Spotswood has created is completely captivating. The setting was so lovely to read and picture - the extravagant dresses, the magic, the scenery, everything! Rich and luxurious, the writing was thoroughly enjoyable.

Even though I wanted to enjoy the story, I couldn’t get through the story quick enough, as I was anxious to find out what was going to happen next, especially as the ending loomed.

The ending was mysterious and quite surprising. I was really sad to see the book end, not only because were left in the dark but because I’ll miss the characters, the story and of course, the Cahill sisters! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Personally if I were to describe Born Wicked, this is how I’d go about doing so:

Downton Abbey (a less scandalous version though!)

 +

witchy goodness

+

 a trio of sisters

+

forbidden romance

= Born Wicked!!!

Rating 5/5

Review: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

December 27th, 2011 ∙ HarperCollins

Source: Brought

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 448

My wish
is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy, daydream-worthy
love.

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it?

Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

Review:

As soon as I read the blurb for, Love and Leftovers, I knew I had to read it, I mean howawesome is that blurb, and that cute cover doesn’t hurt either!

My first verse novel!! I was soo excited and a tad scared. Excited because I couldn’t wait to experience a novel told in verse, but also a bit nervous as everyone raves about verse novels and I didn’t know what to expect. But I’m happy to say that I loved it!

Before you mark it as a fluff read because of the cute cover, trust me when I say this book’s got depth. Long distance relationships, boy troubles, parents who’ve just split, moving States, troubes with the boyfriend, you name it.

As the story progressed, the story only got better and better! And soon I was in a flipping frenzy to find out what was going to happen next!

I loved Marcie’s character. She’s your typical teen, who I could totally relate to. She makes mistakes and she’s not perfect but who is. Apart from Marcie, I loved every other individual, her family, J.D, Katie and Danny. I especially loved the Leftovers and Linus, as he was so sweet and such a gentlemen.

I really loved reading Marcie and Katie’s little chats.

After reading Sarah Tregay’s lovely debut, I seriously can’t wait to see what she does next!

Just when I thought I had a few more pages left, the book ends, which was a total bummer.

If you haven’t read a verse novel yet, I totally recommend this book! If all verse books are like this, I can’t wait to get reading!

Rating 5/5

Have you read Love and Leftovers? Did you enjoy it as much as I did!? What other verse novels would you recommend? Comment below!

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Everneath #1)

January 24th, 2012 ∙ Simon and Schuster

Source: Provided by the publisher

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 370

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Review:

What first got my attention about, Everneath was the stunning cover. After being enchanted by the cover, I read the blurb and was intrigued, so I marked it as to-read. When a copy came in the mail for me, I started it pretty much straight away, eager to start it. I thought Everneath would be a good read, but never did I ever think it would blow me off my feet the way it did!

When I first began, Everneath, I was confused. I didn’t know what was happening and found it hard to piece together. It took me awhile to get into, and for a little while, thought I might not be able to get into it. But around the 50 page mark, something changed and all of a sudden the story stopped being confusing, started making sense and grabbed me completely!  And the rest is history!

The writing is delectable – easy, breezy, beautiful, and so lovely to read.

I’ve haven’t read any other Hades and Persephone retellings, but I have heard from others that the outcome hasn't been so good. So after reading Everneath, if your about to give up on trying another Persephone retellings, stop and try this book!

I bet your wondering, how the romance in this book was, well I can gladly say it was brilliant! Addictive, magical, enticing, and so much more, I guarantee, you’ll melt in your seats!

Nikki, the main character is strong and determined. I enjoyed getting to know her and her story, along with how things came to be in her life. Jack, oh where do I begin! Sweet, kind, protective, understanding, courageous, and that’s just a few of his qualities! He made me squeal in delight! Definitely, a new literary crush! Swoon! Cole was annoying, and I wished that he’d just leave Nikki alone, but I didn’t really think much about Cole though, as all attention was all on Jack!

Brodi Ashton, has done a superb job on her debut! I can’t wait to see what she does next! As for that ending! Oh, boy, I don’t know how long I’ll be able to last til for book two! I need that sequel, pronto!

In case it isn’t clear enough, I loved, loved, loved, Everneath!

Rating 5/5