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Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Rating: ★★★★

This book took my heart on a roller coaster ride. It was soaring higher and higher, but I know there’d be a drop at some point. Even though I knew the bad was coming, every page was filled with a simple sweetness that had me smiling like a giddy schoolgirl experiencing her first crush for the first time.

Eleanor stands out. She’s got bright red hair, wears a strange collection of clothing, and isn’t the skinny girl everyone else is. Park is just on the edge of being part of the “cool crowd.” When Park grudgingly lets Eleanor share his school bus seat, neither of them have any idea of the friendship nor relationship they are about to begin. Park doesn’t really like Eleanor to begin with, but after he catches her reading his comics, a friendship starts up. From there, things just continue to grow until they’re experiencing their first taste of young, teen love. It’s simple, sweet, and perfect.

Eleanor doesn’t have the best home life, but I loved how she didn’t let that get her too down. It affected her attitude, but it didn’t bring her down. She still faced every day with determination, and after Park became her boyfriend, happiness. She’s incredibly strong, in that she doesn’t give up even though it would be so easy for her to say that getting out of bed wasn’t worth trying.

Park knows the group of cool kids, and calls himself friends with them, but he’s not really a part of their life. He’s just on the outside, but not enough for it to affect his high school credibility. He worries about what others think of him and that affects his relationship with Eleanor. Even so, they are able to work through it and come out stronger for it. He has so many sweet little moments throughout the book that I lost track of them all.

There were so many little hints as to what would be happening to Eleanor and Park that I knew when everything came out, it would hurt. It wasn’t difficult to figure out where the problem would come from, but when everything finally came out, my heart just seized up. It was sudden and horrible, but even in the midst of all the bad, Park remained his sweet and steady self, and I think that’s what made it hurt even more.

Eleanor & Park is one of those books that makes you as happy as it does crushes your heart. Even so, you can’t help but fall in love with Eleanor, Park, and their young love. It will leave you twitterpated. I’m looking forward to reading more from Rowell, especially if it gives me the flutters Eleanor & Park gave me.

If Eleanor & Park sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

Title: Pretty Girl-13
Author: Liz Coley
Rating: ★★★★

I’m not sure what I expected with Pretty Girl-13, but it definitely wasn’t the book I got. It’s a young adult novel, but it handles some incredibly tough subject matter and it handles it well.

Angie was 13 when she vanished. Three years later, she shows up at her house with no memory at all of how she got there or where she has been for the past years of her life. No one in her family, herself included, knows how to deal with what has happened. Angie still feels 13. Her mother just wants her to get back to a normal life. Her father just wants to protect her from everything, since he feels like he failed to do so three years ago. Angie goes to a forensic psychologist who helps Angie piece together her life, both in the present and in the past.

Angie is an amazingly strong character. Her feelings and emotions felt real. She was frustrated, sad, happy, angry…everything she should feel with being thrust into a life she doesn’t understand. She’s facing a new home life, going back to school, and trying to figure out what happened to her at the same time. The moments when she breaks down and admits the truth, to herself and to her psychologist, are the moments I liked her most. She didn’t try to hide from the truth once she was ready to face it.

There are a few secondary characters that I loved. Kate was there for Angie when she needed a friend most. Kate is the school outcast, but she and Angie pick their friendship up, almost as if the three years hadn’t passed. Of course, their friendship is different than that of two 13 year olds, but they are there for each other whenever needed. There wasn’t awkwardness between them, things left unsaid, and it was refreshing.

My heart was in my throat as I read this novel. I knew Angie’s missing three years wouldn’t be easy to handle, but as each little piece was revealed, my heart was crushed a little bit more. The last twist at the end could go either way, too much drama or just right, but I thought it fit. It might have been a little too coincidental, but I didn’t mind. I was happy that Angie had found peace with what had happened to her and how it would affect her life going forward.

Pretty Girl-13 is not a lighthearted read. It takes on a horrible subject matter and doesn’t mince words. But there’s still light within the novel. Even as everything horrible is revealed, Angie manages to stand strong and fight her way to the truth. It’s a tough novel to read, but well worth it.

If you think Pretty Girl-13 sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Deception by C.J. Redwine

Title: Deception
Author: C.J. Redwine
Series: Courier’s Daughter
Rating: ★★★★★

I’ve been not so patiently waiting for Deception from the moment I finished Defiance. I loved the action and romance of the first novel, and couldn’t wait to see what Redwine had in store for her characters next.

The city of Baalboden has been destroyed and the Commander has run off. All that remains is a small group of survivors who selected Logan to be their leader. Logan and Rachel have both lost nearly everyone they love and care about, with their love for each other needing to be strong enough for each other. Logan decides to take the group of survivors across the Wasteland in search of asylum in the northern territories. With the Commander’s army at their backs, a traitor in their camp, and the unknown in front of them, their travels are dangerous.

Logan and Rachel have moved past the unknowns of their relationship. Redwine doesn’t have to build up their relationship. They love each other and have that foundation to build upon. They have to figure out how to fight for each other while still fighting against the outside forces bent on their destruction. They both have lost their family and a large majority of their friends, and need the other in order to keep their strength going.

For Logan, Rachel is the only person her has left that he considers family. His worries that her self-sacrificing ways will get her killed make him take extra steps to ensure her safety. Rachel has lost all family except Logan and is just as worried about losing him. She’s not sure if she can survive losing another person she loves. The death that has already surrounded her haunts her and she doesn’t know how to get past it, or if she’s even strong enough to. It causes her to become even more self-sacrificing and take bigger risks, even when she knows she shouldn’t.

I loved the storyline of this novel. The trek across the Wasteland, with possible dangers at every turn, and the traitor within the group made for an amazing read. I was never really sure what was going to happen next. I was kept guessing at who the traitor was and I must say, I was pretty shocked. The character deaths made me cry, one especially, and as much as I hated seeing those characters go, I understand why they happened. Everything had a purpose, whether it was to move the story along or to have a character change and grow.

Deception was just as amazing as I hoped, and knew, it would be. It made me weak in the knees. It made my heart race. It was everything I wanted. The ending left me breathless and I really wish I didn’t have to wait to read the next novel. Redwine has an amazing series going and I can’t wait to see how she ends it.

If Deception sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: The Last Winter of Dani Lancing: A Novel by Phil Viner

Title: The Last Winter of Dani Lancing: A Novel
Author: Phil Viner
Rating: ★★★★

The Last Winter of Dani Lancing is so much more than a murder mystery. There’s a ghost story, crooked cops, and it will mess with your mind. There are so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had things figured out, a new detail would pop up and I’d be thrown again.

Dani was kidnapped and brutally killed when she was away at university. Her murderer was never found. Her mother has gone nearly crazy trying to solve the case herself, her father sees and talks with her ghost, and her best friend Tom has devoted his life to finding the killers of girls like Dani. Her parents’ marriage falls apart and no one ends up any closer to finding the truth about happened to her.

Some might find the time jumping bothersome, but I think it works for this novel. Little pieces are revealed a page at a time, but not enough information is known until the very end. It kept me guessing and wondering what really happened. It also gave me the chance to see life before compared to life after. I felt the impact more when I read how happy they were as a family when Dani was little and then immediately after read about Jim, Dani’s father, talking to her ghost. It made her father’s sadness and her mother’s obsession all the more apparent.

Dani was fascinating to me as a character. When she was alive, she portrayed herself as a perfect child, working hard and not getting into trouble. It became very obvious early on this was not her true self, though, and that the truth of who she was would give a greater clue as to what happened her than any case file could.

There was one dramatic twist at the end that I felt was out of place and unnecessary, but every other turn had me scrambling to figure out where I was headed next.

The Last Winter of Dani Lancing is a gripping psychological thriller that will shock you. You’ll be looking for answers on every page and you won’t find any until the very end.

If The Last Winter of Dani Lancing sounds like your kind of book, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass
Rating: ★★★★★

I am nearly speechless. It’s rare for me to lose words when it comes to books I love, but Maas has managed to write a book that took the words from me. I’ve been eagerly awaiting Crown of Midnight and it did not let me down at all. I mean…wow.

Celaena is now the King’s Champion, doing his bidding by getting rid of his enemies. He tells her a name; she goes to get rid of the “problem.” It’s the bargain she has made for her freedom. She is anything but loyal to the king, though, and that puts not only herself in danger, but those she cares for as well. Chaol is the man she finds herself drawn to, but she values her friendship with Prince Dorian as well. Things only get more complicated when secret plots and long forgotten information start finding their way out.

Celaena is a dichotomy. She is fearless, yet cowardly. She’s strong, yet powerless. She’s incredibly brilliant, but confused. She has no problem taking on someone in a fight. She knows how to handle herself there. But when faced with secrets and cover-ups, she cowers. She can fight against the most well trained fighter and win, but she can’t fight against forces she can’t see. When faced with horrible tasks, she figures out a way around them in order to save lives, but lets her emotions cloud her judgment at times. She’s a fascinating character and after the last chapter, I really cannot wait to read more about her.

Chaol and Dorian are still wonderful. Dorian has accepted that he may not be her first choice and that creates a bit of tension between the three of them. He still wants to remain friends, but the lines are blurry and need to be sorted out first. Chaol is loyal to the crown and he lets that interfere with what he wants to do. And then trouble hits and the three of them fall apart and roles are changed. It’s amazing how Maas can write a love triangle that’s not really a triangle, but still lets you have those warm, fuzzy feelings about both boys. I love it.

The plot. My, oh my. The entire story is a thing of beauty. There are creates and fights and secrets and it’s simply lovely to read. Everything that happens answers one question but leaves you with more. It’s a twisting, winding maze that I can’t see the end of, but can’t help but try to piece together. That I have to wait until next year to get more of the story is leaving my insides curling.

Crown of Midnight is a stunning novel that has me declaring that this is a must read series and author. Maas can write an amazing novel and the wait for the next novel is way, way to long. I need it in my hands as soon as possible.

If Crown of Midnight sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Title: The Bitter Kingdom
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns
Rating: ★★★★★

This is such a bittersweet review to write. One the one hand, the book was amazing. Everything I wanted, could have asked for, and more. But it’s the last of the series, and I almost didn’t want to read it, just so I could make the series last.

Elisa is on the run. Not only is she a fugitive in her own country, but her enemies have taken the man she loves to lure her to them. Her Godstone is more alive than ever and she knows she still has more to accomplish. She is driven and determined to not fail the man she loves, her country, her friends, and herself. Every choice she makes is important and the pressure she is under is immense.

Elisa is amazing in The Bitter Kingdom. She doesn’t let worry or fear cloud her judgment. She knows she faces many problems, but instead of losing control, she decides what to do and when. She uses her voice powerfully and doesn’t back down when she knows she’s right. There is so much she accomplishes in this novel.

There is also a glimpse into Hector’s mind in The Bitter Kingdom. They don’t take up a large section of the novel, but they are enough. They show the respect and admiration he has for Elisa as well as the love he has for her. They carry so much weight in so few pages, but they give you such a good, warm feeling. As for the romance between Elisa and Hector, Carson isn’t building it up as much in this novel, but instead focuses on showing how Hector and Elisa are equals, and how their love built on friendship, trust, and admiration is a guiding force for each of them.

The storyline just about did me in. I couldn’t stop reading, deciding sleep wasn’t necessary and that caffeine loading the next day would be completely worth it. I just had to know what was going to happen next. There was no easy spot to stop and say “here is good, I’ll pick it up here tomorrow.” I even had trouble stopping to make myself lunch and dinner. The action and fighting was intense, and even the times when there wasn’t fighting, I still couldn’t put the book down.

The Bitter Kingdom is one of the best series ending novels I’ve read. It has a little bi of everything and is incredibly well written. I’m extremely sad to see this series end, but it ended perfectly. I cannot wait to see what Carson comes up with next.

If The Bitter Kingdom sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Dream Thieves
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Rating: ★★★★★

I was better prepared this time. I had a feeling the beginning would feel a little disjointed but then everything would suddenly come out and it would be wonderful. I was ready. And The Dream Thieves did not disappoint.

Things are different for the group now. Their roles aren’t as defined and no one really knows what that means for their quest or their friendships. Tensions are rising, secrets are coming out, and the truth is getting muddled. Blue is still in a sort-of relationship with Adam, but her feelings about Gansey are getting confusing. Ronan has demons to face and a secret that could get him in trouble. Gansey is empowered by the successes of their quest, but unprepared for the failures. All of this is only made more important by the arrival of people searching for the same thing the raven boys and Blue are looking for.

Something I am really enjoying about this series is the slow build. Not everything has to happen right away. Things take their time unfolding, letting the idea grow before coming to fruition. Blue and Adam are a friendship, but maybe more, but Blue won’t let herself fall for any boy, even though Adam tries. Blue and Gansey are building a friendship build on trust and respect, even as things start to get confusing for them. Even Blue and Ronan are finding a groove in their relationship. Things aren’t perfect, of course, but it all feels real. Nothing is forced in these relationships and that’s refreshing to read.

I feel like The Dream Thieves is more of Adam and Ronan’s stories. Adam is trying to find a way to be equal in the group and Ronan is trying to find a way to deal with the truth.

Adam has always felt like less than because he doesn’t come from money like the other boys. He’s had to work for everything, he’s had to think about how his actions affect others, and he’s had to make choices for himself that he didn’t want to. It’s left him feeling unequal in the circle of friends. In The Dream Thieves, he finds what makes him equal.

Ronan has carried a secret with him and now it’s threatening his way of life. He doesn’t understand what he is or how he affects the world. He’s blown off this secret any way he can, until it finally gets free and he must face it. He has to find a way to accept what he is and learn how to control himself. His struggle was fascinating to read and it really explains a lot about his character.

The Dream Thieves is a superb follow-up to The Raven Boys that only deepens the mystery. It will have you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath. Things are only just beginning and the wait for the next novel feels so incredibly long. There’s so much story left to tell.

If The Dream Thieves sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Rating: ★★★★★

So here’s the thing. For the first part of The Raven Boys, I was completely ready to share my disappointment in the book. I didn’t feel like anything was happening and it was just going to be a bunch of different stories that somehow connected. And then something happened. I’m not entire sure when things shifted, or how, but all of a sudden I couldn’t put it down. Any disappointment or confusion I felt at the beginning vanished.

There are several different stories being told in The Raven Boys. Blue, Gansey, and Adam are the main perspectives, but there are a few others as well. I think this is why I wasn’t sure where the story was headed in the beginning. The characters all seemed so different, and on different paths, that I wasn’t sure how they would end up together. I should have put more trust in Stiefvater because she brought everything together perfectly.

Blue’s family and home is filled with physics, but she has no real power. She amplifies things for everyone else, but she doesn’t have visions or powers of her own. She’s always felt a little left out, so when she sees a soul of a boy set to die in the next year, she is shocked. There are only two reasons why she would be able to see him and neither is comforting. He is either her true love or she is going to kill him. Unfortunately for Blue, her kiss is fated to kill her one true love.

Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah are a group of friends that go to the prestigious all-boys school of Aglionby. They’re known as the raven boys. Blue has sworn off all boys, but especially raven boys. However, the quest the boys are on draws Blue in, despite her attempts to remain distant. Adam is the boy who brings her into the fold, but she forms a friendship with all of them and for the first time, she feels useful instead of just used. With Blue added to their group of adventurers, things begin to happen for the group.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away because you really need to experience the entire thing without prior knowledge, but I will say the plot fascinates me. The tie to Earth’s energy and ancient history is something I’ve come across before and find incredibly interesting. I really can’t wait to see what more Stiefvater does with this concept.

The Raven Boys came out of nowhere and hit me hard. I went from being extremely meh about it, to absolutely in love with it. There is so much more story to tell and my only regret is that I can’t go forward in time to get my hands on the remaining novels. This is a beautiful start to the series and I can’t wait to read more.

If The Raven Boys sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Can’t Wait for Mondays: Crash into You by Katie McGarry

When I read Pushing the Limits, I wasn’t really sure it was going to be for me. I can be picky when it comes to teen romances with drama. Sometimes there’s just too much that goes on that’s either unbelievable or cringe-worthy. Instead, I found myself completely drawn in and loving McGarry and her writing.

The same thing happened when I read Dare You To. I knew McGarry could write a contemporary teen novel that didn’t stray into the overly dramatic, but I was still just a little hesitant. I had absolutely nothing to fear. Dare You To was even better and gave my heart even more flutters.

And now to round out the trio of friends’ stories, Isaiah gets to tell his love story. And I really, really can’t wait. From everything I’ve read, it is even more glorious than the first two novels.

From the book description:

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

That sounds like a book that is going to get my heart racing for more than one reason. And those are the books I love. They get me involved and caring and then something comes along to make me catch my breath.

Crash into You is available for pre-order and will be released on November 26th. Be sure to get your copy as soon as possible. McGarry isn’t an author you want to miss.

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Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Rating: ★★★★

I was in the mood for a sweet teen romance that would make my heart flutter and my insides melt. The Distance Between Us is just that kind of book. It’s not an epic love story, it doesn’t have any paranormal aspects, and it doesn’t make you analyze every word. It’s just a sweet, wonderful romance about two people coming together and figuring love out.

Cayman has always been there for her mother. She helps run the doll store her mother owns, even taking time away from school to make sure her mother doesn’t work too hard. After being abandoned by her father before she was even born, her mother’s impression of the rich has worn off on her. They just don’t understand what it’s like to struggle, so she doesn’t really give them the time of day. So when Xander walks into the doll store and breaks a few of those stereotypical rich ideas, Cayman isn’t sure how to handle it. Add in Masen, the lead singer for a band and someone her mother thinks is a better match, more her equal, and you’ve got a fantastic story.

I love Cayman. She says it how it is and her sarcasm and dry humor are what keep this book from being too sappy. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, but it’s easy to see that her sarcasm is a way to protect her from having to deal with the unpleasantries of the world. She has a wall up, with good reason, and her humor is how she defends that wall. It was in the moments when she let that shield down, though, that I found myself adoring her. It was easy to see how much she cares for people, even if she tries to stay aloof. This book could have easily fallen into Hallmark movie cheesiness territory, but it was Cayman that kept the novel feeling light and fresh.

Xander is charming and sweet, just what he should be. Even Masen is wonderful. There wasn’t any competition between the two, but I liked how Masen was there to show that Cayman wasn’t going to settle for something she didn’t feel was right. Masen wasn’t there to provide a distraction, he was there to make sure Cayman followed her heart. And her heart led her to Xander. The fact that they started out as friends was perfect. It made the romance feel authentic. They pushed each other to be more than what they thought they could be. They created a base before building a relationship on it. Yes, there were a few trust and miscommunication issues, but in a teen romance, that’s what you expect. They work through them and in the end it creates a stronger relationship.

There is a bit of a twist at the end that doesn’t really help or hurt the novel, but that’s okay. It was just there and I think even without it, the novel would have been just as good. I can see why West added the plot point though, and it does help move the story along.

Kasie West has written a wonderfully sweet novel about overcoming stereotypes and finding that first love. It could have easily become too cheesy to read, but the characters keep it from straying into that territory. They’re real and funny and sweet and perfect. The Distance Between Us is the perfect read if you’re looking for something that will make your heart flutter.

If The Distance Between Us sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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