The F-It List is a dazzling novel full of spirit and laugh out loud moments. I loved how Halpern played on the topic of forgiveness and mak 3.5 stars
The F-It List is a dazzling novel full of spirit and laugh out loud moments. I loved how Halpern played on the topic of forgiveness and making every moment count - The F-It List is one of the most heartfelt novels I've read in a long time.
I will admit that The F-It List started off a little shaky for me. I wasn't a fan of all of the swearing and how the characters presented themselves, but as time went on, the characters grew on me, and I came to love them. Alex has went through a lot in her life, but she's one of the strongest protagonists I've ever read about. She's willing to do anything to accomplish Becca's bucket list - she was a stunning protagonist with many flaws throughout her. She's by no means the perfect character, but that's what makes her Alex. Julie Halpern did a great job at developing her characters during The F-It List - they're such great characters that captured my heart and had me enthralled with their insane adventures.
This was my first Halpern novel, and the writing style was definitely unique. While it did fit the characters to swear and carry out in such manners, it took me awhile to adjust to them, but when I did, I fell in love with this story. Halpern brought this achingly beautiful and thrilling story to life off the page. I was captivated by this story, and I felt like I was traveling with Alex to complete these goals. If you're needing a read to emerge yourself in and leave with all of the feels, definitely pick up The F-It List.
I loved how The F-It List had the sad, cold factor to with the topic of cancer, but it also had a lighthearted, fun aurora to it about living every moment to the fullest and living with no regrets - I absolutely adored Julie Halpern's take on it. I had so much fun while The F-It List, and it has left its mark on me, long after I turned the final page. Needing a novel to fall in love with? Or that will open your eyes to living life and everything it has to offer? The F-It List does just the trick. Marvelous!
Overall, The F-It List is a gorgeously told story that had me entangled with the characters and the world - so good! ...more
The Eye of Minds is an epic, fast-paced story that was impossible to put down. The Eye of Minds is a new dystopian legend for the ages.
I had read The The Eye of Minds is an epic, fast-paced story that was impossible to put down. The Eye of Minds is a new dystopian legend for the ages.
I had read The Maze Runner not too long ago, so I was curious to see how James Dashner could create a new series: and I was not disappointed whatsoever. Actually, I was blown away. I loved The Eye of Minds. Everything about it was phenomenal - I'm a big sci-fi geek, so getting to enter a video game/Internet world where a hacker is taking it all over, and it's up to a nobody-hacker to stop him was so cool. Michael was an incredible character. He was smart, clever, and sly; he was the perfect character for this novel. Dashner has done it again. The Eye of Minds is a masterpiece.
If you love anything dystopian/sci-fi, The Eye of Minds is a must-read. You'll be hooked by the first page, and you won't be able to put it down. I was so fascinated with this world, I never wanted to leave it. Not only is it technologically advanced, it has its dark corners to avoid where sinister transactions occur. The plot was gripping and suspenseful, and it made for a phenomenal, mind-blowing novel. Everything about The Eye of Minds is brilliant. Addictive and gripping, The Eye of Minds shattered me and blew me away. A phenomenal start to a very promising saga!
World-building is everything for me in a novel, and we get to see so many stages of the VirtNet. From its interesting and amazing structures, down to its dark and evil-filled underworld. Dashner takes us on a fantastic adventure with The Eye of Minds, and I couldn't get enough of this novel. More please!
Overall, The Eye of Minds is a spectacular first novel in an engaging, marvelous world that shouldn't be missed. One of the best novels I've read all year. ...more
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was, unfortunately, a little disappointing for me! I really wanted to enjoy this book, and while I did at some parts, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was, unfortunately, a little disappointing for me! I really wanted to enjoy this book, and while I did at some parts, others fell flat for me.
I'll start with what I did enjoy about this book: the aspect of Paris was fantastic! I felt like I was roaming the streets of the City of Lights with Colette and a definitely-freaky-scary murderer, and I could really tell that Alender put a lot of research into this book. And I really appreciated that! The world is great, and I especially loved the twist on Marie Antoinette, and Paris in general! Colette was a great character for me... for the most part. Sometimes, she seemed naïve and didn't understand the situation wholly, but still went into it headstrong (which can be a good quality), and other times, she'd be a kick-butt, take-no-crap-from-anybody character that I fell in love. I flip-flopped with how I felt about her character.
Now, with what I didn't particularly enjoy... some of the scenes felt a little silly. The plot sounded awesome! And Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was awesome at times, for sure. But others seemed a little farfetched and too out there for my likings. And I noticed that some of the deaths repeated! I was hoping for a little more substance from this book, and I, unfortunately, didn't get that.
But that's not to say that this isn't a good book, because it was! I think I set my expectations a tad high for this one, and not all of them were met. But if you're looking for a fun, eerie read, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is the perfect choice!
Overall, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is a good read that had me on the edge of my seat at times, and drifting off from the book at others....more
Sweet Legacy is an epic and pulse-pounding conclusion to one of my favorite series of all time. Tera Lynn Childs has done it again - Sweet Legacy is mSweet Legacy is an epic and pulse-pounding conclusion to one of my favorite series of all time. Tera Lynn Childs has done it again - Sweet Legacy is marvelous!
I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology re-tellings, and the Medusa Girls trilogy is my favorite Greek re-telling series... ever! They're so good! And upon finishing Sweet Legacy, I knew that this was the best book of the series. The characters have developed so much since we first met them - the cool part? Every character develops. Not just one. All of them. - and I absolutely adored that. Childs's vivid and wonderful trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion in Sweet Legacy, and it will not disappoint readers whatsoever.
WAR. WAR WAR WAR. There is so much of it in Sweet Legacy! Like the first two books, it's impossible to set this novel down. Especially since we have a stranger toying with one sister's mind, another sister is falling hard for someone she isn't suppose to, and the last sister is warrior who is on the verge of being completely shattered. Sweet Legacy throws so many plot twists at the reader, and there is never a dull moment. I was actually shocked at some of the events! Sweet Legacy is more brutal and darker than the previous novels (with war coming, it has to be - and it's totally awesome!), and it is just so. good. If you haven't picked up this trilogy, you must! Fantastic!
And oh my gosh! That ending! I kid you not, I was freaking out during the final 30 pages of Sweet Legacy - I had no idea what in the world to expect! Some endings aren't satisfying and leave you hanging, but that's not the case with this amazing trilogy. Childs wraps everything together so perfectly. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this book and this trilogy. I'm so sad it's over, but I couldn't have asked for a better ending. Phenomenal.
Overall, Sweet Legacy is one of the best endings I've ever read. Tera Lynn Childs is one master of storytelling! Brutal, original, and wholly captivating, Sweet Legacy is magnificent!...more
Despite from seeing some not-so-good reviews, I loved Hideous Love! The beautiful writing, the engaging arc, and the tragic and achingly stunning storDespite from seeing some not-so-good reviews, I loved Hideous Love! The beautiful writing, the engaging arc, and the tragic and achingly stunning story of Mary Shelley all worked together flawlessly for me - I really, really enjoyed this book!
I'm just going to go ahead and state the obvious Goodreads has shown me: Hideous Love didn't receive the best of reviews from my friends. But it was one of my most anticipated books of fall, so I knew I had to give it a shot; and in the end, I'm so thrilled I did! This, to me, is the best example of trying something for yourself before you knock it. I thought that the writing was masterfully done. While it is a slower-paced novel, I was so hooked and engrossed by Mary Shelley's story and the twist that Hemphill spun on it. The fact that Hideous Love was told in verse was superb; it fit the story so seamlessly, and I fell in love with this book so much. Beautiful, enthralling, and fantastic!
Like I said before, Hideous Love is a slow-build kind of book. It took me a couple of pages for me to get into the groove of the story, but it wasn't long before I caught myself sinking deep into this rich and fascinating world. If something happened to Mary, I ached for it. If she succeed, I cheered her on. I absolutely love it when an author can make me connected to a character like that, much less an actual person. What's weird is that I didn't enjoy Frankenstein at all, but I loved the story that was based off of the author! If you're in the mood for a wonderful historical that will have you falling in love with the characters and captured by the writing, definitely give Hideous Love a try!
Stephanie Hemphill, why don't you just rip my heart out. The ending of Hideous Love is what made the book for me. Hemphill just reflected the scenario of Mary Shelley's pain and struggles so incredibly, and I felt a better understanding for Mary after this novel. And though I've said that Hideous Love is a slow-build book, it's not boring by any means. The pacing fit the story so well - whether it was her family or Mary's writing, she goes through many hardships, and Stephanie Hemphill brought that essence of obstacles to Hideous Love so well. Highly recommended!
Overall, Hideous Love is a slow-paced, brilliant book that enthralled me and made me feel a connection to the characters I haven't felt in a very long time. Hideous Love is lovely!...more
How to Love is, simply, fantastic in every way imaginable and possible. My favorite contemporary novel of all-time, for sure! Powerful, heartbreaking, How to Love is, simply, fantastic in every way imaginable and possible. My favorite contemporary novel of all-time, for sure! Powerful, heartbreaking, and incredible, How to Love should not be missed - absolutely phenomenal!
If you know me, you know that I only recently began to get into more contemporary novels. And How to Love was one of my most anticipated reads of 2013. You have no idea how relieved and thrilled I was to discover that How to Love lived up to all of the hype surrounding it; it's truly great! The emotions, the heartbreak, the characters, the writing style, everything blends and flows together perfectly and congruently, and How to Love has easily become one of my favorite books of all-time. If you love contemporaries, you seriously must pick up this book. It's a revolution in the YA market.
What I love most about How to Love is how the story is told: we have the Before chapters, which tells of Sawyer and Reena's life before Reena became pregnant, and the After chapters, set three years later with their daughter, Hannah, and their love rekindling. It was just so unique and interesting! And I love how the situations and dilemmas feel authentic. I can't express that enough. Reena does not jump back into Sawyer's arms when he comes back into her life; he hurt her in ways he could never possibly imagine, and Reena will never forget that. Oh my gosh, I am so happy that Reena did not go running back to him by any means. It felt totally real and genuine! I thank you for that, Katie Cotugno - for not only created an authentic, incredible novel, but just for this masterpiece of contemporary literature. How to Love is incredibly phenomenal and fantastic. I loved this book to pieces.
And the writing style - GAH. Talk about stunning. The way Cotugno bends the words makes them flow off the page so easily and masterfully. This novel is sure to be a hit, and I can see myself re-reading this book in the future; it's that wonderful. I'm serious with this recommendation, guys. How to Love is an absolute must-read. One of my favorite books ever.
Overall, How to Love is an achingly beautiful, satisfyingly incredible novel that moved me, shook me, and completely consumed me. I couldn't get this novel off of my mind. If you're in need for a great love story, How to Love is the fantastic way to go!...more
This review is entirely spoiler free, even if you haven't read book one, Defiance.
Deception... oh my gosh, Deception! I really enjoyed the first nov This review is entirely spoiler free, even if you haven't read book one, Defiance.
Deception... oh my gosh, Deception! I really enjoyed the first novel, but C.J. Redwine created an even more epic and dazzling sequel that had me completely enthralled. Phenomenal with a capital P!
I'm going to be honest: when I read Defiance, the first book, I had some trouble getting into it. It took me about forty pages to adjust to the world and characters, but after that, it soared, and I fell in love with it. I had no problem whatsoever getting into Deception! It probably was because I was used to the world of Baalboden, and to Rachel and Logan. But Deception brings something to the table I've never seen done before in this genre: betrayal amongst friends. There's an enemy within the group of rebels, and someone isn't who they say they are. And I loved that! It was so interesting to guess who was the backstabber and see how Rachel and Logan progressed in this brutal, harsh wasteland. Redwine definitely put her characters to the test in Deception, and it was absolutely phenomenal. One of my favorite reads of the year!
With Defiance, we mainly got to see Baalboden and a few places outside the walls. And believe me when I say that I freaked out when we got to explore more of the entire world! Traveling with Rachel and Logan was a blast, especially when there is a traitor in their group - the struggles, hardships, and backstabbing that Rachel and Logan endure in Deception was one of a kind. I love it when an author isn't afraid to break their characters and put them to the test. When I was nearing the end, I had no idea what in the world would happen to this duo. I can't even express how much I love Deception. I can't even.
It's unbelievable how much action there is in this sequel! Sometimes with sequels, the plot can drag on and nothing can happen, all because we're waiting for the grand, explosive finale in the third book. That is totally not the case in Deception! It's impossible to put it down - Redwine throws action scenes at the reader so quickly, but in a way for the reader to absorb the atmosphere and feel like they're standing on the battlefield with these characters. If you enjoyed Defiance, just wait till you read Deception - it'll make grab you, shake you, break you, and never let you go. Luckily, you'll never want it to end.
Overall, Deception was a marvelous sophomore novel that had me on the edge of my seat, turning pages desperately to find out what would happen next! Truly brilliant!...more
Starry Nights is whimsical, magical read that had me completely enthralled and utterly captivated. Such a fun read!
I'll start with what I did enjoy abStarry Nights is whimsical, magical read that had me completely enthralled and utterly captivated. Such a fun read!
I'll start with what I did enjoy about Starry Nights: the atmosphere of Paris was perfectly captured. I felt like I was walking around the galleries with Julien and Clio, and I could see the City of Light in my head so clearly. And for that, I applaud Whitney! The world was so beautiful, and it makes me want to go visit Paris! I'm not a good drawer/painter whatsoever, so it was nice to read about an artist! Julien is laid back and is never caught up with his emotions - he's just a mellow, cool character. And Clio was so great! She's spent her life all alone, but when she meets Julien, she becomes invincible. The characters are so diverse and wholly unique - it's one of the many reasons why I enjoyed Starry Nights!
But I have to be honest when I say that not everything settled well with me with this book. While I did enjoy the majority of it, a few things ticked at my brain. The first would have to be saving the art - I found some of the problems and dilemmas to be a bit repetitive, and I would get sucked out of the book at times. Luckily, Julien and Clio brought me back into the story easily, but still, it was a bit redundant. And I was never quite sure if I totally understood Clio's character: was she just a love interest or was she something more to Julien? Something that would change his life? I couldn't ever tell, and though I did like Clio's character, she wasn't my favorite part of Starry Nights.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this book - I truly did! I think I set my expectations a tad bit high for this one, and not all of them were met. If you're looking for a great summer read with an amazing atmosphere, gorgeous writing, and a romance written in the stars like none other, Starry Nights is the book for you!
Overall, Starry Nights is fun read that will have readers falling for these characters and begging for more....more
The Brokenhearted is a phenomenal novel that is equally unique and epic. I have never read a story like this masterful one, and I adored every single The Brokenhearted is a phenomenal novel that is equally unique and epic. I have never read a story like this masterful one, and I adored every single minute of The Brokenhearted.
The Dark Knight meets Cinder. A girl receives a bionic heart - one that makes her like a superhero - that is counting down like warfare. What more do you need to hear to convince you to read The Brokenhearted?! I was so excited to dive into this novel - luckily, all of my expectations were met. I expected a highly addictive and epic story that would grab me at the beginning and make me feel entwined with this world, and thankfully, The Brokenhearted did just that for me. I don't think I've ever read a "superhero" type of story, but I was so pleasantly surprised to see just how fantastic The Brokenhearted was. I truly loved every thing about this book. Definitely a new favorite read of mine.
The world-building was stunning. Her city is now a dark, hollow place, and it's up to Anthem Fleet to stop the sinister forces determined to take everyone down. Betrayal is such an awesome topic in YA books, and betrayal basically revolves around The Brokenhearted. As Anthem uncovers the truth about her family, she's thrust deeper into darkness and evil, but with her bionic heart, she's unstoppable. Anthem is such an amazing character. Sure, she's naïve at first (who wouldn't be when you're a cyborg suddenly?), but as The Brokenhearted progresses, Anthem evolves and becomes such a fierce, epic protagonist that is willing to take on anything. The Brokenhearted as one of the best world-building and character-developments I've seen in a young adult book in a long time.
That ending! Thrilling! Action-packed! Biting-your-nails worthy! I zoomed through the final 100 pages of The Brokenhearted. Kahaney spun a plot twist on the ending that made me so absorbed and caught up in the pages, but I couldn't stop turning the pages and emerging myself farther into the story. But that ending! Please tell me there's a sequel; I need more of this world. The Brokenhearted is easily one of my favorite books of the year.
Overall, The Brokenhearted is a dazzling, marvelous novel that is sure to be a mega hit. For fans of Revenge and Revolution 19, The Brokenhearted will captivate you and consume you!...more
Of Beast and Beauty gives new light to the timeless love story, and I found myself falling so hard for this book! My love for this beauty of a book isOf Beast and Beauty gives new light to the timeless love story, and I found myself falling so hard for this book! My love for this beauty of a book is beastly - I devoured it, and I couldn't get enough of it!
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales, and Of Beast and Beauty is a marvelous gem. Because not only am I fan of this fairytale, I am also a fantasy/high fantasy junkie (seriously, I love those books so much) - and you don't even understand how thrilled I was to discover that Of Beast and Beauty is part fairytale re-telling, part fantasy! Success! Epic! And Stacey Jay did a fantastic job with Of Beast and Beauty - it's a new favorite book of mine! I can easily see myself re-reading this very soon. I just can't with this book. Are you a fantasy freak? A fairytale re-telling lover? Of Beast and Beauty is an absolute must-read!
The characters are stunning and brilliant! It's such a daring and awesome move to have the princess of a harsh and brutal world to be blind, and Jay did an incredible job with Isra's character. Dark secrets come to light, and it shows when Isra's sight returns. I loved how we got to see the contrast and balance between her not seeing the world and her seeing the world for what it truly is - so amazing. And Gem! He's totally awesome! Again, Stacey Jay did a fantastic job at creating a character that has been an outcast for their entire life, but finds hope within his, of all things, enemy. They connected so well, and I can easily see them being the next big thing. I love this book to pieces. Seriously.
And the world-building! Gah! We have to imprisoned dome-like arena where the Smooth Skins (like Isra) live, and the brutal desert (where the Monstrous, as well as Gem) stay. And with alternating POVs, we get to see these worlds in all its glory, its peculiar ways, and its monstrous, haunting, and dark secrets. World-building is a big part of a book for me, and I was immediately captured by Jay's world. Absolutely original and utterly captivating, Of Beast and Beauty is one of a kind and unputdownable.
Overall, Of Beast and Beauty is easily one of the best books I've read this year, hands down. Enthralling and darkly peculiar, Of Beast and Beauty is a fantastic, radiant read! ...more
Loading...
