Review of: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky

Page Count(Paperback Edition): 216 pgs.
Publisher: MTV Books
Released:February 1st, 1999
Genre: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
My Rating: 3 stars
Read: from December 11 to 27, 2012
Source: Borrowed from a friend(Thanks Meagan!♥)

Synopsis:

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. 

But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up. 

(from Goodreads)

Okay, I'm going to start off saying this: I may say some things that offend your opinion or P.O.V, and I'm sorry. There is no other way for me to explain why I rated this book 3 stars, without criticizing it. I admit, it will be hard for me to do this too. I will not, however, harp on all the negative things and leave out the positive ones. That would be unfair of me. But let's get to this!

So, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This almost turned into a DNF, because I was so depressed in the middle of the book. How could I not be? I felt like Charlie kept talking about his deceased aunt Helen all the time, and everything else that was going on in his life. Then, I started feeling bad! I felt that I should have loved and adored this book like everyone else, but I couldn't. I couldn't fake my feelings about this.

Charlie was an odd character. I still don't know whether I liked him or not. He's a freshman, who hangs out with juniors and seniors. That seemed unrealistic to me, but I won't get into that. Charlie is a wallflower, and an intellectual one at that. And this is where my feelings for him waver; he seemed too smart and knowing for his age! How is that realistic?

Ok, here come my two favorite characters: Patrick and Sam. I absolutely loved them. They were fantastically written, and seemed real! Maybe I loved them because I actually know what they look like in the movie...

The last negative thing I will say is how the mood of the story really, really affected me and my progress on this book. I was confused and sad almost the whole time.

Okay, now onto positive things! In the second half of the book, I started liking the story a whole lot better because happiness seemed like it entered the atmosphere. I started reading the book faster because I felt better as a reader. I also really liked Bill, Charlie's English teacher. While he kept giving him books to do essay's on, you learn that he really thinks Charlie is very smart.

I loved Charlie's, Sam's and Patrick's relationship. They were so close, almost like sibling's. If that relationship didn't exist, I wouldn't be able to cope with this book.

All in all, I didn't loathe The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I semi-liked it. It just wasn't the book for me, but I still would recommend everyone to read this, since it is a must-read book.

♦Haley♦

Review of: Belles(Belles, #1) by Jen Calonita

Belles(Belles, #1) by Jen Calonita

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 356
 Publisher: Poppy
 Released: April 10th, 2012  
 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
 My Rating: 4 stars
 Read: December 02 to 16, 2012
 Source: Library


Synopsis: 

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

(from Goodreads)

As I'm sure other's would agree, this book is addicting. There was not one point where I said to myself " I'll just stop there for today" There was no good part to stop at. This story was very continuous  and it almost lost it's affect if I ever set it down for too long. Which is why I didn't!

 I love the idea of this story. To me, this was a dialed down version of Mean Girls in a book! It was verbatim the same, with a new girl, and basically a group of mean girls. Who doesn't love this plot?!

I very much enjoyed the character set. Izzie was by far my favorite because of how strong she was, whether it looked like it or not. She had so much backbone and spirit which I loved. Hayden came next because of how helpful he was to Izzie and because he was genuinely sweet. Mira and the others to come are in no particular order, just the way they pop up in my head. At first, I didn't like Mira because she was so controlled by Savannah, and didn't try to accept Izzie into the family! Opposite of Izzie, she had no backbone in the first half of the book, but then towards the end, she really rose and stood up for herself. I cheered her on quietly in my head(: Now, onto the evil queen, Savannah. I did not like her from the beginning and didn't feel sorry for her in the end. She truly irritated the crap out of me, and I probably hated her more than I should have had, because I was imagining her to be someone else.. Anyways, I really thought she was a rich, spoiled, ungrateful brat. I think that I was supposed to hate her, because she was the one who made everyone take Izzie's side. So, Jen, I thank you for that!. 

Onto the guys and family members(: Brayden! Ooh Brayden was such a cute character, I loved him♥. I wasn't expecting that little twist  at Emerald Prep with him and Izzie, but it really set the stage for what was to come. If Brayden was real, I'd take him in a heart beat. No offense Izzie! ;). Taylor was kinda iffy for me. In the beginning, I thought he had some clingy problems with Mira and brushed them off. But towards the end, he really wanted Mira to be everywhere with him, every practice, game, even every minute. That was the point where I was totally creeped out, and vowed to never become a trophy wife, ever. Kellen was really interesting. I was intrigued by his aura around him, but was disapointed when Jen didn't add more to his story with Mira. I hope in the next book, Jen will expand a lot more on their relationship. Mira's family was fairly good, but had some secrets which were revealed in the end. I was shocked when I found them out.

Belles was a wonderful, but shocking book. The only critique I have is that there needs to be more expansion among characters in the next book. I can't wait to get my hands on Winter White! I recommend this to fans of contemporary with a bit of a twist.

♦Haley♦

*on a side note: I have now added another name to my favorite baby girl names: Mirabelle! It's just so perfect and princessy; I love it! The other one I love is Tabitha(:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: EEP! Yay!

Look Look Look! I'm so happy I finally have this book! I'm borrowing it from a friend(: I may hold off on this review until I get totally caught up with other books i need to read/review.

♦Haley♦

Showcase Sunday #1

This is my first Showcase Sunday! (: If you are interested, click here for more info(: The book I will feature is one you may have seen with yesterday's post.

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

1. Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski

Page Count(e-book Edition): 36
Publisher: Harper Teen Impulse
Released: December 4th
Genre: Young Adult Novellas
Source: Amazon Kindle Store

Synopsis:

From the critically acclaimed author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) and the Magic in Manhattan series comes a fun short story about taking the plunge on the high seas, where not everything is what it seems.

Kristin is ready to take the next step. . . . The only problem is she hasn't found the right guy to take it with her. That's why she agreed to go on the ominously named Cruise to Nowhere with her best friend, Liz. There are plenty of cute guys on the ship to choose from if only Kristin can work up the nerve—and stop worrying about the reports in the tabloids that passengers on cruises have been mysteriously disappearing and that someone suspects it has to do with . . . vampires.

(from Goodreads)

I literally got this book the day it was released, and for only a dollar! I most likely won't do a review on this just because of how short it is. Maybe a paragraph or two.. Who knows? Happy Blogging!

♦Haley♦

Currently Reading Updates(:

Since I feel like I've abandoned you guys, I'm going to do a a little post about my thoughts on the books I'm reading, just to keep you guys up to speed. Ready? OK lets go!

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

1. Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot
                                 
Page Count(e-book Edition): 422
Genre:  Young Adult Romance
Source: Anne Elliot herself! Thank you so much Anne! :')
My progress: 87% done

Synopsis:

After a car accident--an event he considers a prank gone bad--pop star, Hunter Kennedy is forced to hide out with his aunt in small-town Colorado. He’s supposed to rest, heal his scars and attend high school in disguise until the press dies down. But he only wants to get back to work.
Worse, the girl who’s been assigned to make him over into a geek is a major geek herself. Vere Roth is a chattering pixie, a blushing tornado and a complete social disaster. He’s never met a girl who’s never-been-kissed, believes in romance and thinks Hunter’s a 'nice' guy.

Funny thing is...Hunter is nice around Vere because she’s his first real friend. He also can’t seem to stop sharing his secrets or keep her out of his heart. Knowing he’d never deserve a girl as sweet as Vere, he resigns himself to the friend zone, and helps his new bestie with her own makeover.

She tortures him daily for ridiculous guy advice on how to snag her life-long crush. A guy Hunter thinks is totally wrong for Vere, and sadly, one who has taken note of Vere’s transformation.
When Vere asks her best friend for some kissing advice, Hunter can’t resist...
And that's when things get out of control...

(from Goodreads)

My thoughts so far:
I really, really like this book. Anne Elliot does a great job at balancing humor with  romance. A very cute, quick read. Keep your eyes out for my review coming to a computer near you soon! Haha(:

2. Belle's(Belle's #1) by Jen Calonita


Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 356

Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary
Source: Library
My progress: pg. 244

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

(from Goodreads)

My thoughts so far:
I like this one a lot too! There are some things that bother me a bit with Mira, like how she has no backbone against Savannah, but maybe by the end, she will stand up for herself and Izzie! I'm hoping so!

And the third one I just started a few days ago and literally have not read a word of it, so I will just give you guys the synopsis, book cover and title(:

3.  Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski (A Harper Teen Impulse Imprint)


Page Count(e-book edition): 36
Genre: Young Adult Novellas
Source: Amazon Kindle Store


Synopsis:

From the critically acclaimed author of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) and the Magic in Manhattan series comes a fun short story about taking the plunge on the high seas, where not everything is what it seems.

Kristin is ready to take the next step. . . . The only problem is she hasn't found the right guy to take it with her. That's why she agreed to go on the ominously named Cruise to Nowhere with her best friend, Liz. There are plenty of cute guys on the ship to choose from if only Kristin can work up the nerve—and stop worrying about the reports in the tabloids that passengers on cruises have been mysteriously disappearing and that someone suspects it has to do with . . . vampires.

(from Goodreads)
♦Haley♦

Review of: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

*Sorry if this is really crappy, I haven't done a review in forever:(*

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Page Count(Paperback Edition): 360
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: (this edition) July 5th, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Read: September 17th-November 21st 
Source: Books-A-Million


Synopsis: 

A dying teen learns to live in this heart-wrenching debut, perfect for fans of If I Stay

Campbell Cooper has never been in love. And if the doctors are right, she'll never have the chance. So when she's told she needs a miracle, her family moves 1,500 miles north to Promise, Maine--a place where amazing, unexplainable events are said to occur--like it or not. And when a mysterious envelope arrives, containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies, she finally learns to believe--in love, in herself, and maybe even in miracles, as improbable as they may seem

I could have finished this book so much quicker if school work/life wasn't in the way! Geez! But back to the book(: This was so magical. I was seriously falling in love with living in the paradise of Promise, Maine. I even googled it to see if Promise, Maine exists! Sadly, it doesn't.

When I first picked up this book, I had a really good feeling about it. I guess it's part of its whole magical miracles it's got going on(: The romance, illness, suspense and magical-ness of it made my contemporary heart swoon!

I thought the plot developed great on it's own. Wendy didn't try and rush into the story , like many other authors do. She let it sit for a while in the beginning, giving you a feel of what was happening/going to happen, and it gradually started to kick up to some of my most favorite parts. Ex: When Cam meets Asher and when they go to Disney World together(dawwh). Wendy somehow managed to have this sense of paradise in this small town of Maine while holding onto " Cam is a very sick cancer patient at the end of her run". I began to love everything about Promise, like the beach, Cam's new little house, ASHER!<3, little shops and festivals and the people in general! It just sounds like a place I would love to live in. I,myself, started believing in this magic of Promise. There was some parts towards the end where was like "wow I totally forgot that Cam has cancer" I think Cam did too sometimes. The ending was so bittersweet and beautiful, yet it seemed like it fit perfectly. I still felt sad because that was opposite of what I expected/wanted to happen. But, I mean what to expect? Miracles can only do so much :'(.

The characters were phenomenal  I loved everyone. Cam, Asher, Perry, Cam's Mom, Izanagi, Nana, Elaine and so many more! Even the animal characters were perfection. They all had their special, unique quirks that added to the story and made it that much better. I just loved this book so much, all these feelings I can't even explain.

So there you go! I recommend this book to everyone and anyone. Bye, for now, before I start rambling!

♦Haley♦

Top Ten Tuesday # 4 = Top Ten Fave. Contemp. YA Authors

HI!!! Oh my gosh, I've missed blogging so much! All of this homework is really unfair. It's truly painful, having to stop reading. I hate this so much! But, today I have some free time(yayyyy!) so I'm going to do a Top Ten Tuesday Post (: Enjoy!

Today's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and Bookish, is about my top ten authors in any category. Naturally, I chose Contemporary. So here we go!

1. Sarah Dessen. Why? Oh well isn't it obvious? Her books make me want to melt inside because of the beautiful, lovey dovey writing(: Plus, she connects places in books together and makes you go "oh how clever!".
2. Kieran Scott. Again, with the writing style, it's so girly!
3. Deb Caletti. She somehow manages to write about love, but  brings real life problems, like disorders, into the situations, which is really neat.
4. Susane Colasanti
5. Siobhan Vivian
6. Justin Chen

And thats really all I can think of! Catch ya later!(:

♦Haley♦

Review of: The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Why I have been absent:

This may sound like an excuse, but the real reason why I am having trouble posting, is because of school. Almost every class gives me homework every night, and this all totals up to about 6 hours of homework a night. I am hoping to at least put out one post a week, whether it be a review or a meme. I hope you all understand the pressures of high school, and forgive me for not being on! </3

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Page Count(Paper Back Edition): 288
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Released: February 27th, 2007
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Read: September 3rd-15th
Source: Books-A-Million

Synopsis: 

I am not my illness. "Girl with Anxiety," "Trauma of the Week" -- no. I hate stuff like that. Everyone, everyone has their issue. But the one thing my illness did make me realize is how necessary it is to ignore the dangers of living in order to live. And how much trouble you can get into if you can't.
Jade DeLuna is too young to die. She knows this, and yet she can't quite believe it, especially when the terrifying thoughts, loss of breath, and dizzy feelings come. Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, she's trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That's why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and that's where she first sees the boy in the red jacket. A boy who stops to watch the elephants. A boy carrying a baby.

His name is Sebastian, and he is raising his son alone. Jade is drawn into Sebastian's cozy life with his son and his activist grandmother on their Seattle houseboat, and before she knows it, she's in love. With this boy who has lived through harder times than anyone she knows. This boy with a past.

Jade knows the situation is beyond complicated, but she hasn't felt this safe in a long time. She owes it all to Sebastian, her boy with the great heart. Her boy who is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right.

Master storyteller Deb Caletti has once again created characters so real, you will be breathless with anticipation as their riveting story unfolds.

This book has been on my to-read list for a little while now. I am so overly happy that I randomly decided to read this! The Nature of Jade was an emotional ride for me, but so worth it because of the great moral behind the story. (:

I was really intrigued when I first read the synopsis. Jade has an anxiety disorder which she has lived with all her life, which made this book stand out a little more than others. Throughout the book, you travel with her and her struggle with anxiety. Jade spends her time as a senior in a repetitive routine; school, watching elephants via webcam and homework. Then she spots a boy, Sebastian. Jade continues to watch him until..She decides to change up her routine, and goes to volunteer at her local zoo, and help with the elephants. Jade wants to change her fate, and finally meet Sebastian. She does, and her whole world is changed forever.

What really amazed me was Jade's ability to calm herself down when she got really stressed out. She reminded herself that physically her body was fine, even though her mind made her think otherwise. Jade would breathe in and out, and focus on smaller things to stay calm. At the end, Sebastian has to help her regain her calmness when she really is spun out of control. That was a really emotional part of the story that helped me understand what it's like to live with a disorder like that.

I really did like the character set in this book. I couldn't get enough of Jade and Sebastian and little Bo. Oliver was really cute, and appealed to me more than anyone else because he loved to read! Jenna, Hannah, Kayla, Michael and Akello were side characters that I didnt really care for that much. They didn't help nor hurt the story, but I felt they weren't all necessary, except for a few crucial parts. Jade's Mom and Dad were a really good add to the story, because along the way, they start to play a big part in Jade's life(I can't really explain it very well). Abe, her counselor, gave me more depth into dealing with an Anxiety Disorder. It was all sort of a learning experience for me when he asked Jade questions, and I really felt like I was there in 1st person. Damian and Delores were the two major people at the zoo that Jade communicated formed a bond with. Damian was like the head boss of the elephant part of the zoo, and trained Jade on how to interact with them, feed them, do enrichment tasks, etc. I found that really fascinating, Jade being able to be in person daily with elephants. Delores was the ticket booth person, but towards the end she bonded with a special elephant who was in need of it.

Every new chapter, there was an excerpt from  the book The Fundamentals of Animal Behavior by Dr. Jerome R. Clade. Each related specifically with what was happening in the story at that time. The facts were so interesting, that I put that book on my to-read list!

Overall, The Nature of Jade was a very touching, emotional read(to me), and I highly recommend this to anyone. Seriously, pick this book up ASAP! ♥

♦Haley♦

Top Ten Tuesday #3 = Top Ten Bookish Confessions

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is all about Bookish Confessions. Hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish 

Here are mine (:

1. I don't like it when people disrespect books. Some author put in their time and hard work to make that!
2. Dog-earing books is a big no-no for me. Ruins the page and makes the book look unprofessional.  Bookmarks all the way, especially the little magnet ones! Those are like the only one's I use (:
3. I like to read both hardcover and paperback, but paperback draws me a little more than hardcover.. (:
4. I love love love to sort my books by series. I stack one on top of another, and tend to straighten them a lot.
5. I'm a little ashamed of this one, but I don't really like it when people touch or pick up my books. They are like my little babies, so I gotta take care of them!
6. I tend to take off the cover of a hardcover book. It's a habit that I can't control. Since the covers are so pretty and new, I like to keep them safe and unscratched.
7. I can't help but notice spelling errors. I'm not a real stickler about it, but they just pop out at me.
8. Someday, I hope to take everything out my bookshelves and reorder all of my books by series, and maybe color for standalone's.
9. Since I like a lot of book genre's, I have over 400 books on my TBR list, which is going to consume me sooner or later >_<
10. Most of the books I read and review come from the library, because they are free and there is no limit to how many I can check out at one time! I think my top amount of books checked out has been 15.. ha ha.

So there they are! Do you agree of disagree with any? Or do you have some of your own? Leave me comment below.

♦Haley♦

Review of The Daughters Break The Rules by Joanna Philbin/ Stacking The Shelves #3

This is a combination post, as I have just gotten a new book in the mail!

The Daughters Break The Rules by Joanna Philbin

Page Count(Paperback edition): 276  
Series: Daughters #2
Publisher: Poppy (I love poppy!)
Released: April 5th, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
My Rating: 5 stars
Read: August 16th - 26th
Source: Books-A-Million    

Synopsis:

Daughters Rule Number Six: Never talk to the press about your parents.

After leaking a story about the family business, impetuous high school freshman Carina Jurgensen is cut off by her billionaire father. Always resourceful, she fibs her way into a job as a party planner for New York's annual Silver Snowflake Ball. But when Carina finds out that the party committee expects favors and freebies from her dad's A-list connections, a choice must be made: Does she get real about her downgraded status, or pretend she's still the ultimate heiress?

Best friends and fellow daughters of celebrities Lizzie Summers, Carina Jurgensen and Hudson Jones are back in Joanna Philbin's second stylish and heartfelt Daughters novel.

This is going to be a shortish review, as I am still on hiatus. Hope you enjoy! (:

Ah! What can I say? The Daughters Break The Rules was an excellent sequel to The Daughters, and I'm very happy I picked it up. It didn't disappoint, in fact it may even be better than The Daughters!

From this book I got a good mixture of emotions. People may just think that this sounds like every other chick-lit book. I admit, it had some of that (but I LOVE that), but it also had real tones of learning how to live with little. Carina was put in the situation where she was cut off from everything and had only $20 a week, and they twenty dollars included food, clothes and extra stuff. If you haven't noticed, $20 goes by quick. So throughout the story, Carina had to learn how to not only cope with it, but also be grateful for what she has. She definitely grew during the story.

The plot was cute and quick. There was no slow down from point to point, and still had enough sufficient points to make me happy. I really thought that Carina was going to have to stay in California, and would have liked to seen that. But I'm still really happy with how it ended. Almost everyone had a picture perfect ending.. I can't tell you who didn't though! I am really looking forward to reading the third book in the series, The Daughters Take The Stage. I most definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a sweet and relatively short read. (:

And now... drum roll please..

This is also a Stacking The Shelves! Just today, I went to my mailbox and found an ARC copy of:

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. I have received the paperback copy(YEEE) and a complimentary sunscreen!(I'm going to cherish it forever hehe) Courtesy of Kristi from The Story Siren(Thank you so much Krisi! ♥)

 Without further ado, here is the beautiful cover and synopsis!

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

I cannot wait to start reading this! I'm so happy that I got to post this much today, especially because of how busy high school is! Also, due to Hurricane Isaac, I had today off and tomorrow too! So tomorrow I will have Top Ten Tuesday up for you. Hope you all are safe and away from Isaac.

Any questions or comments on my review and/or my Stacking The Shelves? Leave them below please (:

♦ Haley ♦

Maybe a Blog Hiatus?

Hi my lovely viewers and followers (: I'm here to talk about something I never ever wanted to talk about; hiatus on here.  I just started high school today(yeah, yeah I'm a freshy) and I have realized how busy I am going to be between my 7 classes, down time, softball and blogging! I am taking some pretty tough classes this year, including two Advanced Placement classes, Environmental Science and Human Geography. That being said, those are going to be my hardest classes this year. I don't want to leave you guys permanently, but I say maybe 2 weeks tops I will be gone?.. I'm just going to have to see how things go. I will be posting probably some reviews and maybe some meme's, but I wont be back up to speed until a few weeks, or until I get in the groove. I am really sorry guys, and I'm going to miss you guys a whole lot! But don't forget me! I appreciate each and every one of you, for all the help you have given me (:

Bye, for now ); Mwah

Haley

Still on my Mind #3

Sorry for the lack of book reviews, I'm reading this book right now that I'm not going to review,because it's not YA. So today, I'm going a to start a YA book that I can review. I'm also busy because school starts up in a few days, so I'm running around trying to get every little thing possible done. 

Still on my Mind is hosted by Haley at .Ya-Aholic (: Every Thursday will feature a book that you read months or even YEARS ago that was so good (or so scary/unique/funny..etc) that it is 'Still on my (your) Mind!'

This week's "Still on my Mind" is: 

Wicked Lovely(Wicked Lovely #1) by Melissa Marr.

Released: June 12, 2007, HarperTeen.

Synopsis: 

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

Has anybody else had that feeling where you forget about something(in this case, a book) but it's still lurking in your subconscious? That's how I felt yesterday, because I was planning what book to write about today, and Wicked Lovely popped up ! I think it had it's own reasons for popping up ..

1. I haven't read a Faery /fantasy book like this in a while, since the summer of 6th grade
2. This is the only book I've read of the series! (it's sad, because there are five other books in the main series TBR)
3. I only remember bits and pieces of it.

BUT. What I do remember has stayed with me ever since. With perfect clarity, I remember the total darkness and evil in this book, it amazed me! This is certainly not my usual read, especially way back then. I never read Faery books and if I happened to, it was like a needle in a haystack. I absolutely hated Faery books of any kind. I had come across a few really bad ones in the past. But this one book changed my whole perspective. I'm really starting to warm up to this genre, and I'm excited to re-read this book and finish the rest of the series. Again, another series to complete! I'm seriously going to get buried underneath my pile!

What's your "Still on my (your) Mind"? Leave me a comment or link and I will positivley look at them (:

"Waiting on" Wednesday #2

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Mind Games(Mind Games #1) by Kiersten White

Synopsis:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

This book synopsis makes me want it right now. It has the right touch of suspense, fantasy and paranormalcy. It makes me feel like I would definitely protect my sister if I had to (but I don't have a sister haha). Now, all I'm thinking about is this book and GIMME GIMME. Plus it's going to be a series or books, so even more goodness to come.

The expected publication is February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen

About the Author:

KIERSTEN WHITE

Hi! I give the most awkward hugs in the world. I also write books. I'd opt for one of my books over one of my hugs. Lucky for you, I write a lot of them.
The New York Times bestsellersParanormalcy and Supernaturallyare available in bookstores everywhere, with the third book in the trilogy, Endlessly, out July 2012.

Mind Games, the first in a new series, is out in February, 2013. An Egyptian mythology based standalone, The Chaos of Stars, follows in fall 2013, with the sequel to Mind Games in February, 2014. And another book after that. And after that? Another one. I'm a very busy girl.


What is your "Waiting on" Wednesday? You know what to do! (if you don't , please leave me a link or a comment, if you'd like :) )

Top Ten Tuesday #2 = Romances You Think Would Last Outside The Book!

Hmm.. I think I can name a few off the top of my head ;) PS: There may be spoilers. You've been warned!

1. Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games Trilogy. Obviously, they are the hottest fictional couple right now, so I definitely think their relationship would stand the test of time in their generation. But, it could be rocky. If you read the Mockingjay already and you know what happens to Peeta, then you know what I mean. But, I don't want to spoil it for anyone so I'll just leave it at that.





2. Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy. Holy moly, this whole series blew me away! Honestly, they are my favorite book couple. Rose and Dimitri always were the couple I was rooting for from the beginning. Since they are both guardians, they can kick some ass  you know what. They can defend themselves, their Dhampir's and still have a relationship all at the same time.









3. Hermione and Ron from Harry Potter. I may be making this more towards the last movie but i don't care. (: They are flipping adorable together, and they don't realize till the end! They complete each other and could totally make it in the real world. They'd just be all googly eyed, aha.

4. Ever and Damen from The Immortals Series. Now, I know a lot of people don't like this series as a whole, but the romance is so great in my opinion! I'm only 3 books into the series, so don't tell me anything that may ruin it! Ever and Damen are probably one of the most complicated relationship's I've read about. But together, they can conquer any obstacles. Plus, with their mind abilities? They're unstoppable.

5. Calla and Shay from The Nightshade Trilogy. Ok now I have two favorite book couples, this being one of them! Call me bread and butter me up because that's what this trilogy did to me! I was blown away by the amazing series and the romances. Very cute and selected. At first it was Calla and Ren, but then something happened.. I can't say or it'll ruin it for other viewers! But now Calla and Shay are just they perfect couple, and I can't explain in any better than that! (:

(I couldn't find any people representations of them, so you get three book covers instead!)

6. Bryn and Chase from Raised by Wolves series. Again, I haven't read the last book YET. But I will, so Bryn and Chase better still be together. I won't take no for an answer. Their relationship is exactly what I want. Yes, I want to be a girl who lives with super natural wolves and has a boyfriend who is one. Pssh. It's not that complicated ;). Ok, I'm rambling. Bryn and Chase are strong independently and even stronger together. They have this tight knit bond that would help them in the real world and it also makes me jealous.

I'm gonna stop there, cause I've been working on this post for over an hour. I've got my work cut out for me though! I'm just now realizing the mass of series I have yet to finish.. *panics* I seriously need to finish them all before I start a new one..
What is your Top Ten Tuesday? Leave me a link, and comment down below!

Review of : Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

Sorry this is going to be a bit crappy.. I can't brainstorm any, because I'm a bit under the weather. Also, there are some SPOILERS! So I'm warning you right now, if you keep reading, it may ruin the book for you!


Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 291
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Released: June 7th, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
My Rating: 3/5
Date Started: August 4th, 2012
Date Finished: August 8th, 2012
Source: Library

Synopsis:

It is the first century B.C. Cleopatra, the third of the pharaoh's six children, is the one that her father has chosen to be the next queen of Egypt. But when King Ptolemy is forced into exile, Cleopatra is left alone to fend for herself in a palace rife with intrigue and murder. Smart, courageous, ambitious and sensuously beautiful, she possesses the charm to cause two of history's most famous leaders to fall in love with her. But as her cruel sisters plot to steal the throne, Cleopatra realizes there is only one person on whom she can rely--herself.

In Cleopatra Confesses, award winning author Carolyn Meyer writes the story of the teenage girl who would become Egypt's most unforgettable queen, from her early years to her her ultimate destiny. 

I liked this book okay overall. The beginning to middle was great and kept me interested, but the ending seemed a little forced and boring. Let me explain why..

The characters made up for some of it, though they had their bad parts too. Characters I liked : Charmion, Cleopatra, King Ptolemy, Demetrius, Julius Ceasar. Characters I disliked : Arsinoe (she ended up just like Berenike and Tryphaena), Berenike, Tryphaena, Ptolemy XIII. I loved loved loved Charmion, just because of how sweet she was to Cleopatra in her up's and downs. She was always there for Cleopatra. (SPOILER ALERT!) Plus, she is Cleopatra's half sister! I was so happy when I read that! (: Cleopatra almost made it to the dislike list, purely because of what she did collectively in the second half of the book. I loved her as a child because she was really smart and maneuvered her way out of tough decisions. As she got older, she grew on my nerves because she didn't solve the problems as she should have done as the ruler of Alexandria. King Ptolemy was good enough to make it on the like list. He was fatherly enough to Cleopatra, but I think he should have tried to come out of exile a bit earlier that 2 years. (SPOILER ALERT!) I was a bit sad when he died, because then Cleopatra was alone, while her two sisters claimed the throne and were most likely trying to kill her. Demetrius was my favorite character by far, besides Charmion. I like to learn about new things, and he was a teacher, so I really related to him on that level. He was just a such a cute little man. Someone that Cleopatra could go to and explain her feelings. Julius Caesar was iffy. He genuinely wanted to see Alexandria thrive with money and crops, so he helped the best he could. But it seemed sometimes this was all a plan to score points with Cleopatra and get her to love him. Which worked. That was low, because he already had a wife back home, and he had the guts to have a son with her!

Reasons for the characters I disliked. Arsinoe! Even as a small child, she always wanted something. She was greedy and complained quite a lot. As she grew up, she got worse and grew into a minature Berenike. Blech! Berenike and Tryphaena were like the step sisters from Cinderella. They despised Cleopatra, and hated each other, especially when Titus came into play. They were the most viscous sisters who ever lived! (SPOILER ALERT!) But then what supposedly happened is Berenike banished Tryphaena and Titus off Alexandria and onto a boat, because they truly loved each other. Berenike just wanted Titus so she could rub it in Tryphaena's face. Once they were on a boat far away in the Nile, Berenike was rumored to have sent guards to kill them. They were never seen again! But Berenike is then served a hot fresh plate of karma, when King Ptolemy comes out of exile, and hear's of her taking his position and killing her sister. She is knifed through the heart. And finally, Ptolemy XIII. He is the second youngest in the family, and didn't play a huge part until the second half of the book. He rules with Cleopatra at a young age, but was miss-leaded but his regents. He thinks of no other than power and more power. This was all planted into his head by his regents. They are power hungry, and with stop at nothing to get Cleopatra out of the throne.

Plot: As I have said above, I liked the book until near the end, So this includes the plot to a point. I love books with a plenty amount of action and adventure. It supplied with with that! From the long trip on the Nile to Berenike and Tryphaena ruling, it was exciting! Plenty of good surprises and charming writing that made this part worthwhile. After the middle though, the book slowed down a lot. Cleopatra was in power, but it seemed like the author had nothing to write about. I was bored until about the last 4 chapters because the action sped up again. For which I'm glad.

Cleopatra Confesses was good enough to where I recommend it to my fellow bloggers, but not anymore than that.

Still on my Mind #2

Hello! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day and week. This is my second Still on my mind, hosted by Ya-Aholic.

The book that is "still on my mind" today is: 

Prophecy of the Sisters(Prophecy of the Sisters #1) by Michelle Zink. I have the paperback edition. This book was published July 1st, 2010


Synopsis: 

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters--one good, one evil.
Who will prevail?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, they find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. 

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust. They just know they can't trust each other. 

I'm pretty sure I know why it still is. Because of how scary I thought it was when I read it 2 years ago! I  don't think it's as scary now, just creepy haha. I don't read a lot of paranormal as I do contemporary, but I really should start reading this genre a lot more! It was just dark and un-innocent! I have yet to read the sequel, and the book after that. But I have a new goal: to finish all of the series that I have left hanging for some months. I've got a lot to work to do..

Whats your Still on my Mind? Leave me a link or any comments as you wish (:

"Waiting on" Wednesday #2

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins. This edition is in ebook and the expected publication date is September 11th 2012

Synopsis:

Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt…  . Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back jealously. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby? Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened? Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be. Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel. From Goodreads

Tilt really caught my eye when I first read the summary. Sounds like a great Young Adult Realistic Fiction/Suspense book! I literally said "oooh!" after that! It's going to be interesting when they switch P.O.V's. I mean, at least I hope they do! (:

What are your "Waiting on" Wednesday's? Leave me a comment below with your link to the post, and you can count on me that I will check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday #1 = Top Ten Posts

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at Broke and Bookish

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday is all about you and your blog! Basically you post 10 (or less) links to your own posts that you think best describe of make you! Since I'm relatively new to the blogging world, I'm only going to post a few (:

1.My review of How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

2.My review of Sign Language by Amy Ackley

3.My review of Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

4.My review of Sequins, Secrets and Silver Lining's(Threads, #1) by Sophia Barrett

What are your Top Ten Posts? Leave me a link in the comments!

Now, I'm off to read and hopefully finish Cleopatra Confesses(which if you would like to look at, is in my currently reading shelf on the right hand side of this page)

Good day everyone!

Haley 

Review of : Sequins, Secrets and Silver Lining's (Threads, #1) by Sophia Bennett

Sequins, Secrets and Silver Lining's by Sophia Bennett



Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 304 pgs. 
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Released: January 1st, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Cultural Fashion(?)
Series: Threads #1
My Rating: 5/5
Date Started: July 23, 2012
Date Finished: July 27nd,  2012
Source: Library

Synopsis:

When they meet a Ugandan refugee girl who's an amazing designer, three trendy London teens combine their talents to create some kind of wonderful. A hip, cute, multiculti fashion fairy tale!

Nonie's a freak for fashion. Eco-conscious Edie blogs to save the world--and get into Harvard. Starter-starlet Jenny just landed a small part in a big Hollywood blockbuster. But when these trendy London besties meet a Ugandan refugee girl named Crow, sketching a dress at the V&A Museum, their worldview gets an extreme makeover. As they learn about the serious situation in Crow's homeland, they decide to pool their talents to call attention to the crisis of the Night Walking children. A catwalk show featuring Crow's designs--quelle chic way to raise awareness! Now...how to "make it work"?!

From Goodreads

This book simply AMAZED ME. It made me laugh, feel sad, feel compassionate, etc. I just love it when a book does that! That's what makes me gush about it, as I'm just about to do!

The characters were very cute! All of them; Nonie, Edie, Jenny and Crow, Especially crow, because of how she was capable of making such delicate dresses and clothes with her own hands *sighs* (I can sew but that's about it). Let's carry on in deeper detail shall we? ;)

Nonie: Pro's: The narrator. She is kind of her own private fashion designer/stylist with cute and quirky clothes! The way she explained things throughout the book was just adorable!
Cons: None!
Edie: Pro's: Best friends with Nonie, super smart, always aiming high in education. She has her own blog about The Invisible Children.(Super surprised when I saw Sophia added that bit! Made me a lot more compassionate for Crow!)
Cons: A bit annoying,bossy and has no filter when she says something. A.K.A: she doesn't care if she hurts somebody's feelings when she says something. 
Jenny: Pro's: Up and coming actress, starred in a movie with a hot guy, her dad is a millionaire.
Cons: Whiny, doesn't know how to solve her own problems without complaining about them.
Crow: Pro's: Shy(like me), SUPER DUPER SPECIAL AMAZING FASHION DESIGNER.
Cons: It didn't seem like she appreciated what she was given, but towards the end I realized she did, just didn't like to show it.

I loved every single one of the characters in this book so if it seems like I'm harping on them, I'm not! Just feel like people have the right to know the good and the bad (: Also, I only listed the main 4 characters because I didn't get that much of a feel for the others.

Plot time. I didn't know what to expect with this story, and I'm glad! I like to be surprised sometimes, and this was a good one! The setting was very unique, as I have only read about one other England based YA book. The beginning started to grow on me by the 30th page. This is so hard! I don't want to spoil anything, so I guess I should only say that Nonie really grew as a character as she helped with Crows hometown along with Crows show. The ending was special and unexpected, and almost made me tear up ;'(

Great book! Job well done Sophia Bennett. Pat on the back for you! You will definitely be hearing about me reading the next book in the series!