Queen of the Dead

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Grade: 3 out of 5 stars

The Ghost, Alona, had agreed to be the “assistant” for The Goth, Will. Except now there’s another ghost-seer in town and Will is more than curious about the girl and her connections to his now dead father. 

It’s been ages since I finished the prequel to The Queen of the Dead, and for whatever reason I recall it being a fun, flirty, and new take on forbidden romance. Or perhaps it was a fun book and I’m not losing my mind. I’m rambling. The Queen of the Dead was much more action packed than I first anticipated. Some of the humor is lost, which was what made the first book so great. The Queen of the Dead held a more serious note revolving around the consequences of death and the affects it could have to a family.

As readers are acquainted to the society of nowadays ghost busters, Will’s life becomes better known. His father was another ghost seer and had been part of a bigger picture. A picture that seemed to not include Will. When Will becomes involved with the same society, it brings more questions than answers as much as it frustrates me. It also brings forth more drama between him and Alona. The course that the book takes definitely surprised me. I became the audience and didn’t voice any opinions with the new change in pace. I just sat and thought about it; the book was very different than I hoped, but not in a completely bad way.

The romance seemed to sway in The Queen of the Dead, which was another reason why the book wasn’t as fun as the first. I found Alona to be hard headed and childish and the temptation to hit her grew. As with any road, there are a few bumps and this time, expect some bruises.

With any continuation to a series, smaller details are explored and the death of Will’s father, Will’s best friend, and Alona’s death are put on the spotlight. Hopefully the third book will continue on and delve deeper into the tragedy.

The ending is one big shocker. There is no way I could have predicted the outcome. Kade keeps the readers on their toes in anticipation for the next installment.

Cover C+/B-

the mood of the cover was different than the one in the book

Published: 2011 May 31

Source: review copy from Hyperion

Amazon

Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Grade: 5 stars out of 5

Katrina Bishop is one of the youngest, smallest, but surely one of the best thieves in the world. Her currently heist is one of biggest thus far is for the world’s biggest emerald: the Cleopatra Emerald. Many thieves have attempted to steal the jewel and all have claimed that it is cursed. Even Uncle Eddie forbids Kat to even try. But things get personal for Kat when she gets conned. A thief does not get conned.

There is a low chance of me reviewing this book without gushing like a lovestruck teenager. Uncommon Criminals just hit that sweet spot that no other book for the past month had managed to strike. The prequel, Heist Society, was okay, decent, but no means better than Carter’s Gallagher Girls series. Uncommon Criminals, on the other hand, was almost perfection.

Ally Carter seems to enjoy teasing the audience by giving them enough clues that they think they’ve figured everything out. But then out of the blue, up pops an important fact that turns an entire situation around. A lose becomes a win. A clumsy fight because an orchestrated scene. A sweet innocent Kat becomes a focused thief playing her part without one thinking the wiser. And yet, it was just one single thread of the whole series that made my day. Kat kissed Hale. If I didn’t look so ridiculous fist-pumping, I would do it.

In the Gallagher Girls series, it’s taken readers several books for the romance to develop to be called a romance. I was expecting the same slow trickle of a smile, a touch, a hug, a kiss, for this new series. There was the same tension and the same voice in my head chanting “Come on, you know you want to kiss the boy”, but miraculously Carter decided to show mercy this time.

Ally Carter always keeps me in suspense in her well-crafted novel that screamed details. Her originality astounds me at times and the humorous names for cons leave me grinning. When Carter intentional leaves out very important facts, I found myself not being the slightest upset. Every author should have a trick up their sleeves and Ally Carter has many tricks. What came after each plot twist only made the reading experience more enjoyable.

Uncommon Criminals gave the readers a better glimpse of Kat’s inner turmoil about being a thief. It’s like delving into the murky mind of a brilliant girl who’s lost her own focus on her life. And as Kat begins to be submerged into her thoughts, her family and friends pull her out. The strength I found in their relationship was amazing and brought out some of the smaller character developments, which I instinctively search for in series.

I think you get the gist right? I loved this book.

The End.

Cover B-

Published: 2011, June 21; hardcover

Source: review copy from Disney Hyperion

Amazon

From Bad to Cursed

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender [read review for Bad Girls Don’t Die]

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Things are finally looking up for Alexis: her family is in no immediate danger, she has a sweet boyfriend, and her best friend still has her back. Finally her sister, Kasey, is back from the mental hospital after a murderous run with an evil spirit. But rumors start to spread and rejoining some old classmates after the first week of school can be tough for any girl. When Kasey and a couple of odd friends join and form The Sunshine Club, Alexis is a little more than weary. After all, with one evil spirit there’s bound to be more right? 

From Bad to Cursed immediately follows Bad Girls Don’t Die. Readers who are curious about this sequel will need to brush up with the prequel. If you don’t, be prepared to be lost. And now onward to the review!

While I found From Bad to Cursed not as creepy as its predecessor, I still found it chilling. Alender takes old classics—porcelain dolls, Ouija boards, creepy Stepford wives—and somehow manages to give it a creative spin. Or an all consuming black sludge. Really, whatever comes first. Alender explains everything that was needed but leaves behind an air of mystery. I found From Bad to Cursed lacking the humor I first saw in Bad Girls Don’t Die, but I didn’t mind too much. (Not when Carter Blume is showing the nice guys how it’s done.)

Alexis is still the strong, likeable female and sister. With her pink hair and bad girl attitude, she looks the part. Ah but, From Bad to Cursed keeps the readers on their toes when Alexis redyes her hair to a proper color. Even without her punkrock hair, Alexis is still a fierce girl to be reckoned (just as is her sister who can be kickass at times). Alexis love for photography and her skill is showcased when she enters a contest and manages to advance to the final stages. It’s the little things within the details that make From Bad to Cursed such a great read. With Alender’s love of crafts, it’s expected to find aspects of art in her creations.  

If you follow Katie Alender, the author of the Bad Girls Don’t Die series, on twitter you’ll notice that she loves her dog and why wouldn’t she? He is adorable. But don’t let that fool you; From Bad to Cursed is just as gruesome as her first and she holds nothing back when it comes to haunting ghosts who loves to play with peoples’ mind. Alender enjoys teasing the readers by building up the anticipation and drama. Everything things start to fall to place and while its not a happily ever after, it’s somehow perfect for what it is. We’re left with the possibilities and the anticipation of the third book.

Cover B+

Published: 2011 June 14

Source: ARC won from author/ finished copy for review from publisher

Amazon

Witches of the East End

Witches of the East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Welcome to North Hampton: a quaint little town that lies on the edge of a world different. It’s where Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya have made their home and where strange things are afoot. Good thing they’re witches.

Point blank, I am not the biggest fan of the Blue Blood series, but sadly I tend to follow “hype” and requested Witches of East End for review. And I won the chance to review it. Let me tell you this was something different than her teen series. It’s more graphic when it comes to relationships as Freya does the deed more times than she can probably count.

That being said I did enjoy Witches of the East End more than I expected to in the beginning. There are great plot layers happening with plenty of questions being asked and answered with enough wiggle room for the sequel. I liked how the author took the reader around the town and introduced us the residents of North Hampton. It brought life to the town rather than just having it as the “backdrop”.

Witches of the East End can be read as fantasy or romance and even a little mystery. Melissa de la Cruz pulls out the big guns in this book making it original and creative. She weaves in the Salem witch trials with Norse mythology and adding, of course what else, zombies! That is crazy!

However, despite all the positives, I will say that Melissa de la Cruz’s attempt to shed some light on the characters background was very confusing. Seeing as how she kept building it up and up (with word drops like “bridge” and “son” and “god”) I expected the story behind it all to be longer than half a page especially since many readers are unfamiliar with Norse mythology. The onslaught of names gave little time for readers to digest the new names and places. By placing this new information until the very end was great when trying to keep the reader in suspense and teasing them, but it sort of came off befuddling.

I love the secondary characters. Period. Some of them are quirky, some are wicked, some are just annoying, but they were entertaining.

I will say that the main characters were not as fleshed out as I hoped they would. I found Freya to be a physical character that seemed to be focused on her physical needs rather than thinking things thru some times. Ingrid’s reaction to relationship developments were how I would believe an adolescent might react despite Ingrid being thousands of years old. Their motives were simple, maybe too simple for my liking.

The “epilogue” was so effed up. WARNING: do not read until you have sequel in hand. That was one of biggest cliff hangers I have ever, EVER read. And I’ve read tons.

P.S. SPOILER: They’re not actually “witches” which kind of pissed me off

Cover C-

Published: 2011 June 21

Source: Librarything

Amazon: preorder

Tweet Heart

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

"Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected…."

Tweet Heart is one of the most original, creative and well executed novels that I have read in my times. In the beginning when I first heard of Tweet Heart being a book told through twitter I told myself ‘no way, no how, will I ever read this book’.

I’ve come to terms that novels written through emails aggravate me and I end up hating the novel purely based on the fact that it is written through emails. For one thing there is a tendency with internet set books the characters talk in a sort of broken down and dumb down language. Words are abbreviated where there is not really a point behind it and excessive amounts of !!! make me want to pull my hair out. Twitter, I assumed, would only make things worst because of the 140 character limit.

This is where I take a deep breath and say I shall never judge future books based on a couple of bad experiences I’ve had especially when they are two completely different authors. What actually made me pick up Tweet Heart were those positive reviews. So yes reviews do happen to sway my decisions especially for those books I’m on the fence of. And wow, Tweet Heart was not what I had expected.

I have to give full props, kudos, high-fives to whoever designed the format of the novel. It was designed so perfectly that it felt like the people at Hyperion created individual twitter accounts and did screen shots. The people of Hyperion were so freaking awesome that they sent me an e-book of Tweet Heart where I could personally cut out an excerpt. The excerpt isn’t one of the best dialogues but it showcases the design of the book and just how amazing it is. The blue boxes are the DMs. They included the homepage, the wallpaper, the @ function. I freaking LOVE it.

Okay enough gushing about the design. Tweet Heart is a fairly standard novel aside from being told via twitter. The novel didn’t get in-depth with feelings, inner thoughts, and the general development. Tweet Heart was a novel more of relationships than individual growth so the characters I found to be slightly flat. The relationship, be it romantically or purely platonic, does develop, but sometimes not on (the theoretically) screen. What the audience reads is the before and the after of the talks where it is more appropriate face to face than screen to screen.

The characters come alive through their updates and blogs. Readers can definitely get a feel for their personalities may it be the quiet thinker, the outgoing realist, the lovesick dreamer, or the plain confused. Rudnick does what she can in this type of setup.

Cover C

Source: personal copy

Published: 29 June 2010

Amazon

The Candidates

The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1) by Inara Scott

Grade: 3.8 / 4 stars out of 5

Danica likes to call herself a mediocre student: basic classes, no special talent, nothing that truly makes her unique. Unless you might consider the incident when she protected her grandmother from an almost-murderer with a gun. If not well she’s not sure why Delcroix Academy wants to recruit her (her of all people!) to their elite school.

The Candidates gets mixed feelings from me. On one hand I cannot find a definite fault with the novel, but on the other hand there was not that initial spark, the half-crazed need to finish the book, this extreme desire to hunt down whoever had the sequel. You can’t tell, but I have been writing this exact review for about 2 days now and it is not getting any easier. So instead I am going to back it down with bullet points.

• Danica and Jack’s friendship—in general The Candidates focus more so on friendship then on the romance and for that I respect it. For Danica, who isn’t known for having friends, this is all important step and in my opinion, Scott does a wonderful job of side-stepping that awkwardness and heading straight into the gossip and emotional baggage. With Jack and Danica’s friendship, there’s a bit more. There is an instant gravitational pull between the two, but there is also a push. They both stand on even grounds.  
• Background information—it can get overwhelming especially towards the end when it’s a mass of information. However, it does provide enough so everything makes sense with has a bit of wiggle room as Danica learns more about her powers thus more about the school. 
• Cam—the male interest; the oh-so-hot one. You have to read the book to understand where I’m coming from. Cam is like freaking perfect, but there’s a twist to him that makes me apprehension. It’s a big spoiler so I’m zipping my mouth shut, but is anyone else keeping an eye out for him!? It’s frustrating to not be able to pinpoint a character down pat, yet at the same time it’s a sigh of relief that you have a character that makes the novel more exciting and different.
• Grandma—she gets her own bullet point because she is awesome. 
• The ending—whoa! Definitely a cliff hanger, but there was enough closure that I did not want to rip the book to shreds. It was one of the better endings (let’s just say) with pow.

Cover: B-/C+

Source: Hyperion

Published: August 24, 2010

Amazon / Indie Bound / Book Depository

Blog Tour: The Exiled Queen

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford.   But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind.  Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets.  Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford.  If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen. [description from Amazon]

This review is going to be much shorter than The Demon King, just FYI.

With The Exiled Queen, the plot begins to thicken and quicken as well. The world of magick unravels more and exposes several paths that some might not have foreseen. There are several introductions to numerous additional characters.

Cinda Williams Chima retains the flow of the novel and presses forward without a hitch in this sequel. One of the biggest concerns I had was if the transition would be awkward and clunky and delivered different than The Demon King. It wasn’t happily enough 

The novel focuses more on character development than with the big picture. Here is my analysis for the trilogy: The Demon King is the heavy-handed background and general set-up; The Exiled Queen is the development of characters; and the final installment will be the giant climax and pow. Stepping back, this formula makes sense. In the here and now, however, it is a bit unfulfilling unless you have all three books at the same time.

The characters are definitely a joy to read especially Han. Readers, prepare to be swooned. I love the dynamics of the relationship between characters even more so than individually. I love the shy talks, the familiarity that comes through with dialogue, and the strong sense of justice. In particularly I think it is possible to find a relatable character for each reader.

This review is far more general than I had hoped, but here is a little warning: be on your toes. Also prepare to cyber-stalk Chima once you finished.

Cover: B+

Source: Hyperion for blog tour

Published in hardcover: September 28, 2010

Purchase via Amazon

Blog Tour: The Demon King

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Grade: 3.8 / 4 stars out of 5

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari.  Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can’t sell.  For as long as Han can remember, he’s worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes.  They’re clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he’s never been able to get them off.

Raisa ana’Marianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight.  She’s just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father’s family at Demonai camp – riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets.  Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

Quite honestly The Demon King is a fantasy adventure readers' dream come true.

The novel is told through two perspectives, Han and Raisa, where they each live separate lives in two distinctively different worlds. This enables the reader to fully grasp the dynamics the political and physically world. A world that stretches from the countryside, to the alleyways, and to the crevices of the castle. Even without the aid of a map one can easily picture the world in the mind through the descriptions and hints.

This separation of worlds also creates this juxtapose that the reader finally sees in the end as Raisa travels throughout her land without the carriages and guards and Han discovers the truth behind the silver cuffs.

However, The Demon King is definitely on the slower side in terms of pacing and development. It becomes obviously clear that The Demon King is the first installment of a series and that it is merely the set-up for the main plot. It’s a tedious read, I will admit, with loads of background information and history contexts that will leave readers frustrated. [Trust me, I had my brother read the series first and whenever I asked how he was liking the novel, he kept saying that there was no plot yet.]

But do not give up just yet. The novel does reward the reader in time.

Because I find this statement hilarious I have to just say it. My brother calls Raisa a slut. While I will not go as far as calling Raisa a slut, I did find Raisa to be promiscuous. She has had her fair share of kisses at the age of 15, which is the opposite of what I had pictured for a princess: pure, shy, and sweet. Instead Raisa takes charge and has a firm desire to be a good queen to her people. Lessons taught to her from the other side of the family—the clan side—where girls can become warriors.

It is different a modern twist to the novel where girls can more than one first kisses just as boys do (especially Han).

The Demon King does have plenty of twists, some predicted right from the very beginning and others that came from left-field (ensue: holy WTF!). Though it could just be me. See, now that I think about it, a lot of it makes sense. Okay I am totally losing my train of thought and gibbering along nothing.

I would definitely, positively recommend this novel for readers who enjoy fantasy novels with 80% action and 20% romance. The Demon King is a detailed orientated novel that has its pros and cons.

Cover: B+

Source: Hyperion on behalf on blog tour

Published paperback: August 31, 2010

Purchase via Amazon

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Source: Personal

Grade: 3.8 stars out of 5

Daelyn was the fat girl that everyone tormented on. She's been on the butt of every possible joke, forced to attend fat camp where the campers majored in sadism, and molested by a group of boys. Daelyn lost weight but it doesn't matter if she's fat or thin she still feels filthy. Drinking ammonia and bleach she managed to lost her voice and gain a brace while her throat repairs after surgery. Cutting her wrist she managed to lost blood and gained herself on her parents' suicide watch 24/7. Now Daelyn is counting down her next and final attempt to make herself happy with the help of Through-the-light--an online forum and information website where one can learn various ways to kill themselves.

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead is fairly short--200 pages--but it still manages to put in quite a lot. BTYRTID (dang this is a long title) makes me want to vomit, in a good way. The novel has some of the most horrendous characters that you wonder can actually exist. But you know they do. The words are simplified and the sentences are short, but the story they tell are memorizing as they are horrifying.

I found the level of parental commitment to be surprising. On more than one cases I've read novels where as soon as the child does something...not pleasant, the parents ship them off somewhere. In BTYRTID Chip and Kim are holding out and caring.

There's also the boy Santana, who is homeschooled and one day sits with Daelyn on the bench. Are you looking for optimistic teens who are sick? Well he's uplifting without going on the verge of "THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW!" *bright smile* because you know as well as I do that there's a fine line between happy and insanity. Plus he's funny. However I do have questions with Santana that, I admit, seems irrelevant since the novel is about Daelyn, but why does he speak to Daelyn now? Has he seen her before? Will he make it?

Cover C-

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead has been out since last: Amazon / Indie Bound / Book Depository

Only the Good Spy Young

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Source: Hyperion

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Only the Good Spy Young is the fourth installment by New York Times Bestselling author Ally Carter, but by now you should know this. The novel immediately takes off where the last ended. There is not of a recap so I would recommend rereading the third before the fourth since it plays a crucial role. 

Cammie is back for a new session of school yet one teacher is missing. This teacher is a double agent who is working for The Circle. The Circle recruits young spies in training from schools like The Gallagher School for Exceptional Women. Cammie does not know what to do anymore after this new information except for maybe...spying. She and the gang will use their skills to uncover the truth.

One thing that I love about Ally Carter is her consistency. She releases a book a year and each time the novel leaves a sense of satisfaction yet leaving with a small cliffhanger. However it is quite frustrating because the novels are so small and inches the plot slowly.


Cammie, Bex, Macey, and Liz are back with more spy tricks at their sleeves. Zach is also back being mysterious as always. Each character as always play well from one another and their surroundings. There is always something distinctive, likable, and trustworthy about them that makes reading Only the Good Spy Young so entertaining.

In this installment there are more twists than you can count on one hand making this installment the most fun. It also features more extreme environments and a few of the old comfortable ones. Joy ride!

Only the Good Spy Young, for those romantics out there, does go further into the odd relationship of Cam and Zach.

Cover A

Only the Good Spy Young is available for order

The Ghost and the Goth

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Source: Hyperion

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Alona Dare died in her gym uniform. Tragic isn’t it? To top it all off she was killed by a bus—a bus of band geeks. Now she wakes up in the middle of the road where she died with cars and people stepping through her and around her (rude much?), but at least she will forever remembered at her peak in her high school life and stop worrying about the “what ifs” and “whens” she can ruin her life. That and the fact that almost everyone at school showed up to her funeral wearing black armbands with her name on it helps. But soon after waking up on the road again Alona realizes that no one is wearing the armbands…except for her best friend, Misty. Thank goodness for best friend. Not! Misty may be wearing her name but that is Alona’s boyfriend (ex now?) she’s sticking her tongue in. It turns out they have been doing this behind Alona’s back much longer than Alona realized. Now that she’s dead she cannot do anything about, no matter how much Alona wants to. Her life is now completely and utterly miserable.

With nothing stopping her she cries—snots and big lobs of tears and all; no one is going to see her now anyway. Except maybe Will Killian—the school’s gothic freak. But appearances are definitely not what they appear to be.

The Ghost and the Goth is told through alternating points of view, which adds to the level of awkwardness to the two people that I find sadistically satisfying. The novel is energetic and bubbly with enough sass and trauma to cut through the sweetness. The Ghost and the Goth may be cliché, but it is an addicting novel that I inhaled in 3 hours top.

I found both Will and Alona very likeable and somewhat different than what I expected. Alona for me was interesting because I had this picture of her in my mind—a snotty, rich, beautiful girl who is mean is everyone because she can get away with it. And maybe it was because it was told from her point of view that makes her delusional or the extremes of other novel’s characters I have read that made Alona seem nice (in her own twisted way but she calls it like how she sees it).

Will on the other hand I was more on the target with. He was a lot more normal than I would have imagined. Then again I expected this dark, brooding mass of ‘death to the world and its people!’ so maybe that's a good thing.

However I do feel as though The Ghost and the Goth is the Kodak shot—picture perfect here and now. As for the future of Will and Alona I have big concerns. Will there be a sequel? Hopefully so or else the life of Will and Alona will end in tragedy in my mind: age, intimacy, and living life*.

The Ghost and the Goth (despite its title) is a great summer title. A fun read with great energy

Cover A-
Awesome sauce

You can order The Ghost and the Goth on Amazon now.

*clarification in comments.

Hex Hall

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Source: Personal Bookshelf

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

When Sophie’s love spell gets out of hand, that’s the third strike and she’s forced to attend Hecate—a reform school for witches/warlocks, faes, shapeshifters/werewolves, and just recently a vampire. The professors at Hecate aka Hex Hall work for The Council (the name is self-explanatory) that just happens to be run by Sophie’s father—a father that she’s never met because her mother, a human, didn’t know that he was warlock when they first met and left when she did. Now Sophie’s trapped in Hex Hall until she’s eighteen, but she might not leave that long. (Mwhahaha.)

So what can you say about a book that you found pleasant, but nothing extraordinary? Nothing. Except for the most cliché statements of all times: It’s not you, it’s me.

Hex Hall was simple, sweet and predictable. The protagonist is the new witch in town, but she’s the most powerful witch in the longest time. She gets roomed with Jenna, the deemed freak because she’s a vampire. She gets corned by a group of meanies who are gorgeous and freaking powerful and wants Sophie to join their coven. Then she gets teamed up with Archer in “PE” who just happens to be tall, dark, and handsome. Oh and Archer is dating the Queen Bee, Elodie, who is the head of the group of meanies. And it’s high school all over again :D

There’s a lot of classification going on and droning from me, but I think it be the result of my lack of excitement for this book. There are witches in every chapter and yet I’m hardly getting a spark from this book. There are instances of hot pink glitter, but nothing where I’m jumping from joy (or any other emotions really). So you can’t expect me to rave (in a good or bad way) about a book if I didn’t feel much about. If you’re looking for something easy and fun to read then try Hex Hall; it isn’t bad despite my page long blah.

Cover C+

There was no cat in this book. And I kinda wish that instead of the plain green dress it was that blue prom dress with peacock feathers, but then again it could just be me.

P.S. Hex Hall needed another final comb through because I spotted some spelling mistakes.

Percy Jackson Series

Series Order: The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: No summaries as some may contain spoilers.

Review: I’m going to be as vague as possible in this review as I’ll be covering the entire PERCY JACKSON series without leaving you guys going ‘huh?’ So do bear with me as you’ll probably notice some names you might be familiar with and some names that will most likely come up later in the series.

I had high hopes for this series. For one thing, the movie is going to be released very, very soon so getting a movie deal speaks millions on its own. Because this series is shelved with the other middle grade novels it might explain the perfection of Percy Jackson or vice versa. And by sheer perfection I did not mean I was awe-inspired, jaw-slacked with stars in my eyes for his glorious aura surrounding had naming my first born son after him. No by perfection I call him indestructible, invincible, and frankly, a Gary Stu. Before the screams of ‘what about his dyslexia and ADHD’ comes hurling towards me I do recall Riordan stating that Percy is this way because he is might to be a hero. Dyslexia=able to read ancient Greek. ADHD=his natural instinct to not get killed by monsters. With that said and done I will admit that I did enjoy this series as a nice way to kick back and relax for the day:

1. The plot is simple enough that you won’t have to scratch your head or take notes to keep up, but it is well done enough that I was still left intrigued and in anticipation.
2. The various characters that Riordan was able to pack in. He does include an array of ethical characters without stressing so much on it that the reader becomes uncomfortable. Each character is unique enough that the reader can guess which action would best fit which character (aside from the 5th book because that was a slew of names).
3. The way he was able to incorporate the Greek mythology without cramming it down the readers’ throat while…cramming it down their throat.
4. The gradual shift from tweens to teens during his adolescent years. The sudden interest in female as well as the density of a typical male without leaving the reader concerned that things might have sped a little too quickly.
5. The humor for me was not as prominent as what others might believe. A classmate of mine was cracking up at one scene while I barely gave it a second thought. It’ll depend on your sense of humor.
6. The weaving of the prophecies. Yes those prophecies all the way back when. They come back to bite you in the ass.

What I felt lacked:

1. Proper editing. There were some blatant errors that gave me a permanent frown for 3 chapters straight.
2. The last book. I was really irritated by the entire pacing—too fast, too jumbled. The book, to me, was so crammed in 300 or so pages that could have easily stretched. This was not a roller coaster; this was the climb of doom. We went up, and up, and up, then plummeted from the 600th floor in the basement. Countless shifts of time—past, present, more past, further back in the past, wtf is this shit?, skim, headache, yay we’re finally back to where I understand what’s going on! The ending I will have to give kudos to. Wonderful twist.

Annabeth is someone you’ll learn to live with. Tyson reminds me so much of Cheese from FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. Elizabeth Rachel Dare uhhh okay. Grover is my home skillet goat boy thing that plays a mean reed—I think—you’ll be annoyed in the beginning but it gets better. Thalia is the male version of Percy. Nico for some reason really resonated well with me.

Overall: The epitome of a middle grade series—perfect for nephews and maybe some nieces!

FTC: I was no where near paid for this review 'cause if I was it'll be a whole lot nicer and filled with better vocabulary and less grammar mistakes.

Karma For Beginners

Karma for Beginners by Jessica Blank (August 18th 2009—Hyperion)

Grade: 2.7 stars out of 5

Summary: “Fourteen-year-old Tessa has never had a normal life. Her mother, a frustrated hippie with awful taste in men, has seen to that. But when her mom pulls her out of school to live at an ashram in the Catskills, Tessa goes from being a freak among normal people to being an outcast among freaks. Freaks who worship an orange robe-wearing guru. And while her mom is buzzing with spiritual energy, and finding a little too much favor with the guru, all Tessa feels are weird vibes.

Unless she's with Colin, the gorgeous boy who fixes trucks for the ashram. The connection they share is the most spiritual thing Tessa has ever felt. But he's older-like illegally older-and Tessa's taking dangerous risks to spend time with him. Soon her life is blooming into a psychedelic web of secrets and lies and it's clear that something's about to give way. When it does, will she have anyone to hold on to? Will she even know herself?”

Review: There is an abundance of drugs (pot, LSD) and sex in this book so while it involves a 14 turned 15 girl, I would suggest being careful of who’s picking this up.

In the beginning I was quite reluctant and a bit turned off by the ways the characters explored sexuality (spoiler: your 20 some year old boyfriend’s creepy, really creepy, friends and an orange) but someone mentioned that it wasn’t set in the modern time so I let it slide to some extent. I never really delved into those times so I wasn’t exactly sure what is acceptable and what isn’t. Yeah it was odd but it would have been all the rage back then. Anyway moving on….

I thought Tessa was a fairly relatable character. Here she is in this crazy cult like home and the only thing remotely sane is Colin, not to mention he’s not too bad to look at. I understand her way of thinking, her decisions (well not all) and the feeling to just escape.

Colin was someone I found pleasing…at first. He was emphatic with Tessa—understanding her—and quick to give a hug when needed, and doesn’t try to force something. But he increasingly became this “I am man” attitude and developed this jealous presence that was neither sweet nor protective. He practically threw her away. But again we come back to the drugs. They were high, maybe disoriented. I’m not quite sure. I would have liked to see more of the aftermath. The beginning was great, good build-up, transactions from friends to something more but after the incident I just wonder what next.

The relationship between the mother and Tessa was a fragile give and take. It seemed that the mother was the one that needed more caring, more reassurance, more time and patience. We explore the affects of a young pregnancy when the mother has had barely any time to grow up herself. I think that was this relationship showed us.

One other thing that I liked to point out that Karma For Beginners had this sense similar to Candor. Where everyone just listens to this one main leader. Your expression to think, to explore, is an invalid now. Your opinion is condemned. Your self-judgment is considered acting out. This is where you walk along the lines of being a cult. But aside from Candor, this leader is really, really creepy

The ending however was very disappointing—very abrupt. It was a quick “what do you want” question from the mother with Tessa responding and acting on command. The climax of the ending lasted for a about a paragraph to which we turn to the next page—blank. It ended. I love the concept of the idea—the final letter, the speak and I will listen attitude—but it was too fast, too quick for me to truly appreciate it. Even so it was upsetting how quickly Tessa’s mother just accepted what she had to say. It really was way too short. This is when the ending just breaks the greatest of a novel.

Overall: Started out rocky, turn into something I enjoyed a lot, but ended so abrupt that I was left frustrated.

Cover B

8 Reviews Each Under 8 Sentences

During one of my periods where I grew increasingly frustrated of how I've spent weeks for review books but not on my own personal books, I decided to take several days off to tackle it.I read these books from August 9th-August 11th along with this other book: TwiLite. I plan to do a full review for that one

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith [3 stars]

"Emma Healy has never fit in with the rest of her family.

She's grown used to being the only ordinary one among her rather extraordinary parents and siblings. But when she finds a birth certificate for a twin brother she never knew she had, along with a death certificate dated just two days later, she feels like a part of her has been justified in never feeling quite whole. Suddenly it seems important to visit his grave, to set off in search of her missing half. When her next-door neighbor Peter Finnegan -- who has a quiet affinity for maps and a desperate wish to escape their small town -- ends up coming along for the ride, Emma thinks they can't possibly have anything in common.

But as they head from upstate New York toward North Carolina, driving a beat-up and technically stolen car and picking up a stray dog along the way, they find themselves learning more and more about each other. Neither is exactly sure what they're looking for, but with each passing mile, each new day of this journey, they seem to be getting much closer to finding it."

It was clean and nice but the romance sparkled from out of nowhere. The author tries to connect these two teens together but it seemed more like "I've seen the light and now I see that I love him". Coming of age story that deals with past grief. Enjoyed some scenes and found the book to be decent.

Girl V. Boy by Yvette Collins and Sandy Rideout [3 stars]

"When offered a chance to write an anonymous column for the school paper chronicling Dunfield High's efforts in Chicago's citywide literacy challenge, 16-year-old Luisa Perez jumps at the chance. She hopes to distance herself from her family's legacy of academic underachievement as well as to differentiate herself from the ten other Luisa Perezes in the school. The competition between the girls and boys heats up, as each group tries to outdo the other in fundraising. Luisa offers the girls' perspective for the paper, while another writer provides the male point of view. As if juggling her writing, a part-time job, school and a sudden rush of possible F.B.s (future boyfriends) were not hard enough, Luisa has to contend with her sister, Grace, who moves back home with her young daughter. Readers will dope out the identity of the boy writer long before he is revealed in the narrative, but a strong voice and quirky characters keep the plot moving despite the absence of dramatic tension. Smart dialogue and realistic scenes add to the story's appeal."

*shrugs* okay. Nothing much really.

Feels Like Home by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo [3 stars]

"Growing up in a dead-end South Texas town, Mickey had two things she could count on: her big brother, Danny—the football hero everyone loved—and a beat-up copy of The Outsiders. But after the accident—after Danny abandoned her to a town full of rumors and a drunken father—all Mickey had left was a smoky memory, her anger, and the resolution to get out of town for good.

But Danny is back—and he's not the golden boy who left six years ago. He's altogether a different person, and the life Mickey has worked so hard to rebuild seems to be falling apart. Danny's anger is something Mickey just can't forgive, and his best friend's mysterious death six years ago keeps coming back to haunt the edges of her mind. No matter how hard she tries, she can't remember what happened that night—and she's starting to realize that remembering is the only way she can move on. She'll have to face the brother who broke her heart, and that beat-up book that will never again feel like home."

Ended up teary eyed at some parts. Found this one very similar to You Are Here but enjoyed this a bit more. The ending, however, would have liked to be more developed. Some answers are never answered and I wish the author would delve deeper in the death.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles [4.5 stars]

"A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart."

Sensual. Hot. Sexy. Deep. Strong. Brittany was annoying sometimes though. Really impressed with the entire book. Ending was superb! Epilogue was pure fan service that I loved! LOVED!

How To Take The Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison [4 stars]

"Sixteen-year-old Giovanna Petrizzo finds it hard enough to fit in. Three years since her family moved to Texas, she's still the newcomer compared to everyone around her. It doesn't help matters when her twin brother, Dante, takes on the mayor's son by running for class president. The least she could expect, though, would be for her boyfriend, Jesse, to support their cause. But Jesse's apparent defection triggers Giovanna's rash emotional side, and before she knows it, she's turned Jesse from the boy of her dreams to the exboyfriend she dreams of winning back."

A perfect book if you want something funny and wholesome. Great love story.

Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt [3.5 stars]

"There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other."

No comment. Was good, but I have no words as to express really why. Love the format of the novel. Two POV, flashback, present, cause and effect.

How To Hook A Hottie by Tina Ferraro [3 stars]

"At 17, Kate Delvecchio has one goal in life: to become a millionaire before the age of 20. And as far as she’s concerned, college will only slow her down. Unfortunately for Kate, the one thing her parents do agree on is that they totally disagree with her strategy. And so the deal is born. If Kate can raise five thousand big ones by graduation day, her parents will hand over the balance of her college account to invest as she pleases. No college, no degree, and no way she’ll ever be able to pull it off. But when Kate accidentally agrees to go to the sports banquet with the hottest guy at school, she stumbles upon a possible cash cow. The rest of the junior class is amazed that no-nonsense Kate could hook such a hottie, and one by one they approach her for help hooking their own. She doesn’t know anything about getting guys, but for $100 a pop, she’s more than willing to invent a six-step plan for How to Hook a Hottie. And how could that possibly backfire?"

Cute. Main character annoyed me at times.

Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Dress by Tina Ferraro [3 stars]

"Sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now— older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: (1) The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. (2) Her father's too busy with his "replacement" daughter to care. (3) Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. (4) Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. (5) Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would (6) ruin all chances of a college scholarship. (7) She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. (8) And what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway? Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems."

Starting to sense a pattern to my reviews for Tina Ferraro's books. Once again, cute. As was How To Hook A Hottie and ABC's of Kissing Boys.

Psych Major Syndrome

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson (August 11th 2009—Hyperion)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “Patient Name: Leigh Nolan

Age: 18 years

Presenting Concerns:
Leigh Nolan has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards than Rorschach blots), despite reporting that she thinks, "Psychology is a load of crap."

Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much.

Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream?

Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who's badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, nave.

Preliminary treatment will include Introduction to Psychology, but may require more if she's going to answer these questions and make it through her freshman year.

Diagnosis:
Psych Major Syndrome”

Review: If you must know, I like cheese. Lay it thick with a cute little swirl at top. This book reminds me of that, it was cheesy, particularly at the end, with a bit of a twist—a small bit—but mostly cheese.

Tuesday aka Leigh (she prefers to be addressed by her middle name) is a psychology major that needs more help than she can provide. She’s in a half-ass relationship that leaves more to be desired (if you get my drift) but something just isn’t right (and we’re not talking about your left hand). So Leigh tries to find her center and assess her relationship with high school sweetheart in what else? A road trip! Er…okay a family visit back home.

Everyone goes through this phase where you don’t know what you want. You think you know what you want but it turns out you’re wrong. Expect the unexpected. You might like your current boyfriend, but maybe you have a slight okay, large, crush on his best friend. That is not to say I suggest cutting all ties to your beau of now to go salivate to his bestest buddy. What I mean is that Leigh is a relatable person. She has her issues, her props, and her travesties.

Leigh joins a mentoring program to help kids that are on the verge of trouble. The topic strays from psychology and moves to that of teenage pregnancy—decisions, decisions, decisions. Rebekah is just 15 when she had a miscarriage. In the program they talk about the effects of having a child when you’re so young. Responsibilities you have to uphold, sacrifices you have to make. It was interesting how the author managed to incorporate such a heavy topic within the book.

The ending was fairly norm to the T. You could have seen it coming a mile away.

Overall: Cute, oddly strange based off the summary, but true.

Cover C+
I don’t know if I like the cover or not. The model looks dumb on some accounts—dazed? dumbfounded? stargazing? stupid? I just understand the concept behind the cover. The color scheme is quite pretty I admit—I have a penchant for the colors yellow and green together.

The Lost Summer

The Lost Summer by Kathryn Williams (July 14th 2009—Hyperion)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “For the past nine years, Helena Waite has been returning to summer camp at Southpoint. Every year the camp and its familiar routines, landmarks, and people have welcomed her back like a long-lost family member. But this year she is returning not as a camper, but as a counselor, while her best friend, Katie Bell remains behind. All too quickly, Helena discovers that the innocent world of campfires, singalongs, and field days have been pushed aside for late night pranks on the boys' camp, skinny dipping in the lake, and stolen kisses in the hayloft. As she struggles to define herself in this new world, Helena begins to lose sight of what made camp special and the friendships that have sustained her for so many years. And when Ransome, her longtime crush, becomes a romantic reality, life gets even more confusing.”

Review: I think I need to stay away from the camp books. It seems that every one I read never really leaves a deep and enjoyable impact.

The Lost Summer was good. Just not something I ever plan to reread. It has your basic girl meets guy, girl and guy hooks up type of premise, and yet a bit more.

It dealt with the issue of growing up. Of course you lose and gain friends as time goes by and The Lost Summer tells of this. Helena makes a rash decision to ditch her long time friend Katie Bell for the new and exciting friendship with Winn, a fellow counselor. It teaches that two worlds can come together or make some form of attempt.

The camp pranks and activities were fun as they were described in some detail. I enjoyed how the author gave the spotlight on the secondary characters at points. Childhood innocence can best be portrayed in a child. Before the boys, before the petty arguments, we can read what it was like to just be friends who loved the others company—simple.

Helena is the typical teenage that tries to find her niche in life and camp. So when Ransome (I’m not sure how much I like that name…) finally notices her, after a secret crush that she’s had since she was just a camper, Helena is overjoyed. The relationship was much too fast. On some accounts it was unbelievable especially with the sex in the hay stack. It could have happened I guess but I never was fond of some things about Ransome. Chewing tobacco—it just looks disgusting, how some girls find it attractive beats me.

The ending was over too soon. I couldn’t picture the accident well enough in my head. Did she swerve right but still crashed into the other boat? Or did she swerve and hit something else? Wait, what!? Next thing you know Helena was in a coma for 5 weeks and camp is over. That and Katie Bell and Winn became almost friends (I could imagine them having a full-blown cat fight in the middle of the cafeteria) with Ransome visiting everyday until he had to go back to school. Would I have wanted any other way is what I’m trying to figure out. Do I like this happy ending? Was it too sweet for even me to endure? But what if something had happened, would I still find faults? I guess the ending for now I will come to accept.

Overall: Not what I expected but in some ways I did. I think I’m going to stay clear of any more camp based novels.

Cover N/A

The ARC cover is different from the final cover. I kind of like the ARC version better because it portrays more of the actual book than the final version.

Secrets of Truth and Beauty

Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer (July 7th 2009—Hyperion)

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Summary: “When Dara Cohen was little, she was a bright, shiny star. She was the cutest seven-year-old who ever sang Ella Fitzgerald, and it was no wonder she was crowned Little Miss Maine.

That was then. Now Dara's seventeen and she's not so little anymore. So not little, that when her classmates find out about her illustrious resume, their jaws drop. That's just one of her many problems. Another is that her control-freak mom won't get off her case about anything. Yet the one that hurts the most is the family secret: Dara has an older sister her parents tried to erase from their lives.

When a disastrously misinterpreted English project lands her in the counselor's office--and her parents pull her out of school to save face--Dara realizes she has a decision to make. She can keep following the rules and being misunderstood, or she can finally reach out to the sister she's never met--a sister who lives on a collective goat farm in Massachusetts. Dara chooses B. What follows is a summer of revelations, some heartbreaking, some joyous; of friendship, romance, a local beauty pageant; and choices. And as autumn approaches, Dara finds she may have to let go of everything she's taken for granted in order to figure out who she really is, and what family really means.”

Review: Secrets of Truth and Beauty was an enjoyable read that strayed a bit from the norm. While the original topic was about her weight, the plot also divided to that and homosexuality.

Dara grew up not knowing anything about her sister so when she decided to make an abrupt visit, she is shocked to find that her sister is a lesbian. And the farm that she resides is the place where gays can find escape from the harsher reality.

My favorite parts are when Owen comes into the scene. Slightly flamboyant, he brings excitement and happiness to the book. He exudes comfort into an otherwise awkward situation. Milo, however, Owen’s younger brother, is an enigma when it comes to Dara and him. I guess I wanted to see something more happening between the two before any serious takes place. In the end we were left with a cliffhanger between the two.

As for the family aspect I thought it was good, a bit too clean for me at the end—much too perfect in a sense, complete resignation from the parents that had originally been so against Dara. Her sister, Rachel, proved to be quite an interesting character to read. Her development through the years from hard-core troubled teen to cool, calm, collected was intriguing as the reader goes through the diaries that were provided. I loved how the road to acceptance was bumpy.

Overall: A nice spin on weight issues along with the surprise twist of including gays.

Cover B-
It’s a nice cover and all but I saw no relevance to the actual book. No where in the book does it include a boat scene that had any substantial reason.

Based on the ARC I have I had originally given the cover a C+. The colors were so sad and dull.

Revelations

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz (October 28th 2008--Hyperion)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City's wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead.

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question--is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire's secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.”

Review: It’s a love and hate relationship once again. I was never too fond of some the things in this series and Revelations is a perfect example of such.

I finished the book in less than an hour and a half where things were both good and bad. Schuyler to me is slightly annoying. I find her to be overly needy and slightly naïve. She’s high on love where the more important things are hidden from her mind. She has this little bubble of what she believes is true and what isn’t that I just want to pop at points.

Jack is someone shackled by the past with a bond that is inescapable. He’s attracted by Schuyler yet he can’t let go of Mimi. Schuyler is basically an illusion to his past love—Allegra, Schuyler’s mother. He’s creating so much trouble for what he wants, what he knows can never happen, and his just plain selfishness. Same thing applies to Schuyler. She wants Jack but can’t lose Oliver. It’s a tug-of-war match of love conquers all. I don’t know about you but I’m rooting for Ollie, even though Schuyler doesn’t deserve him half the time.

Mimi and Jack are a bit gross for me. To each his own I guess? It’s practically incest but not? It’s a complicated matter of past bonds and current situations.

Overall: Hmmm

Cover B
I prefer the other country’s covers more. Well the first set anyway. I just came across these when I was updating my goodreads page.

Girlfriend Material

Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor (May 5th 2009—Hyperion)

Grade: 3 stars out of 5

Summary: “If Kate were Lady Brett Ashley, the devastating heroine of Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, she'd spend her summers careering around the Riviera in her coupe, breaking hearts by the dozen--because why not? In reality, Kate's never even had a boyfriend, and she'll be spending the summer abetting her mom's lame ploy to make her dad jealous: running off to Cape Cod and crashing at the seaside home of her wealthy friends, the Cooper-Melnicks. To add to the shame, the Cooper-Melnicks' gorgeous daughter Sarah is a bit like Lady Brett, and she seems less than thrilled to hang out with her new houseguest. Any dreams Kate once had of a perfect summer are ruined.

That is, until Sarah's cute, witty friend Adam starts drawing Kate into the fold--and seems intrigued. With Adam around, Kate feels like she just might have a bit of heartbreaker potential after all. But when a breezy summer romance quickly grows more complicated can Kate keep pretending her relationship with Adam is just a carefree fling? Or will she take the risk and tell him her real feelings? Suddenly Kate is asking herself a question she never thought she'd stoop to: Is she girlfriend material?”

Review: Girlfriend Material was decent. There was nothing extremely outstanding of this novel but it shows promise.

First off I really like the relationships in the background. Kate’s mom is growing through a failed marriage and it plays really well with the emotions. The connection between the two mothers is remarkable and I too wish that one day I will have an everlasting friendship as such. Through Kate’s mother, we see the family’s rocky finish with the father. His detached demeanor but his closeness he still has with his wife when it comes to their children. We also see Kate’s sister and Kate’s jealousy with the close relationship she has with their mother. But aside from those background relationships, the foreground one leaves more to be desired.

Adam’s and Kate’s relationship started off fine. We had the part where they grew closer to each other, where they interact, where they find an inner zen with the other. But then it kind of went downhill very fast. Things picked up speed at an alarming rate that left me befuddled. There was a slight issue with their love. What it was, I will not say. But honestly though Kate was all too forgiving and the ending was far too quick. Things should have been stretch a bit more to pull more of the emotions out, if nothing else, do not force anything to happen when they are supposed to.

This book was mainly about relationships (you can kind of get that since I said that word about 50 million times already) so there was nothing else to say. It would have been much better if the ending was played out more, but nonetheless, fine.

Overall: Quick, really quick. Blink once and you are finish. Blink twice and you wonder what happened. Blink thrice, you crack a smile.

Cover B
Cute but the models/characters seem a bit older than teens. A bit more mature than what I would have imagined.