The Summer My Life Began

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5
Published: May 10, 2012; paperback
Source: unsolicited ARC from publisher

What better way to spend your summer than figuring what you want to do for the rest of your life and love it too.

“Elizabeth Margaret--better known as Em--has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father's firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it's not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there's Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can't resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.” 

The Summer My Life Began is a relaxing summer read with light hand of poor family relations.

Em spends her summer doing what she loves and what I somewhat enjoy doing, cooking. While TThe Summer My Life Began doesn’t include recipes, there are some inspirational dishes that can be mimicked. Delicious sounding dishes that I’m sure will make the taste buds tingle.

One thing that I love is how the book juxtaposes Em’s internal conflicts with her external ones. Just as Em finds her calling, family relationship starts to crumble. On one hand, I love that Em’s following her passion and that cooking seems to be so right for her. I, for one, would love to find something I am great at, can make a career from, and have so much passion for it. On the other hand, I don’t envy the pressure from the family to be perfect and something I’m not. Ultimately I was rooting for Em to be a chef and get out from her parents’ steel wings.

Her summer at her aunt’s place that sparked this new Em is a beautiful setting to the novel. I love how Greenland spent some scenes traveling throughout the town and giving it more atmosphere. The blossoming of Em’s new romantic relationship with Cade is sizzling. Cade is the local bad boy with a troubled past and a great future ahead of him. I was slightly iffy about Cade and Em because it seemed almost too soon and too quick, but the relationship grew on me.

The big hush-hush secret that runs through the family can be easily predicted. It is quite hinted throughout the novel. I didn’t mind it as much as others, despite it’s somewhat being a cliché, mostly because I never saw The Summer My Life Began as a life-changing novel. It’s a summer read meant for readers to enjoy, not dissected. I enjoyed it.

Read The Summer My Life Began if you’re looking for something light, but with a surprising hearty bite at the last minute. Some parts of the novel can be fleshed out more and I wished that the emotions can be stronger, but all-in-all a good read.

Cover B-

The Disenchantments

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Grade: 4 stars out of 5
Published: February 16, 2012  Buy from Amazon
Source: won from LibraryThing ER

After reading the praise behind Hold Still I caved and read Hold Still. I liked it. I wasn’t jumping off my seat in love with the book. Then I gave the book to someone else because maybe that person will love the book like many people who encouraged me to pick it up.

Then I got The Disenchantments in the mail. My conscience is telling me to pass this book, but a part of my brain says “maybe this is the book that will make you fall in love with LaCour”. And you know what, it wasn’t, but it was on the right track. The Disenchantments is a roadtrip that will break your heart and find redemption.

Colby (which is a guy by the way because yay for unisexual names) and Bev go way back. They’ve been friends for a while time. They’ve made a pact: after graduation they’ll go travel Europe together. No college. So on tour for Bev’s all-girl band, The Disenchantments (who aren’t good at all), Colby expects things to go smoothly with fun before the band goes their separate ways. But when Bev announces that she’s going to college, Colby starts to wonder why and what else has Bev been keeping a secret?

The Disenchantments took me a little over a month to read. It’s been an on-and-off read where I managed to finish almost 10 books in-between the starting and ending point. I couldn't connect to the book; I couldn’t connect to Colby as a narrator. I couldn't understand why Colby liked Bev so much.

Once Bev admitted that she knew Colby liked her, I gave up. Bev was already distant to being with, but when she made the announcement I really had a hard time trying to figure out what made Bev the girl to Colby. She is selfish, she leads people on, she lies. She’s a borderline b’tch. And then have Colby mooning over her for god knows how much longer in the book, I wasn’t going to last. I had to put The Disenchantments down.

After several weeks enough was enough. I put on my big girl pants and dragged myself through the rest of the book. (I was only about a third way finished.) I don’t know where and when it happened, but I hit a spot in The Disenchantments where I really just started to like to.

The little towns where the band was stopping seemed to shape Colby into a much more interesting narrator. Bev started to flesh out as readers find out what secrets Bev has kept hidden. It’s more emotional than I ever expected from the same girl I once considered to be a b’tch. What started as an innocent road trip turns into self discovery, family struggles, and forgiveness. No one is perfect and The Disenchantments point to that, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

The Runaways: Hello Dad! Hello Mom!

I love the intermingling of art (especially finishing up Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley) especially the various forms of art: drawings, paintings, sculpting, music, acting, photography, tattooing, etc. Each of these forms bring in more characters to the novel, and while it normally would irritate me, I found that it worked quite well in The Disenchantments. The characters were different enough that I was able to keep track of them and saw that they had purpose to the novel.

The Disenchantments is a bold novel with bold characters. Bandmates Bev, Meg, and Alexa with tag-along Colby make this roadtrip an unforgettable one.

Cover A-/B+

I love the vibe I get from the cover and how well it translate from the book.

The Catastrophic History of You & Me

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg

Grade: 2 stars out of 5

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Who else thought how awesome The Catastrophic History of You & Me sounded when they read the summary? Dying because of heartbreak? Wow. That’s different.

When I read the book, however, I had thought that Rothenberg would bring more details. Scientific and biological evidence of how and why Brie’s heart broke in half. Perhaps it’ll be something like from The Sky is Everywhere—a hidden heart problem that no one seemed to catch—or maybe a heart problem that has always been there, but the stress of heartbreak was the final straw. What happened was that Rothenberg introduced a new illness: BHS, Broken Heart Syndrome. Really? Really. Desk, meet head; head, prepare for pain. There are biological anomalies everywhere and I get that this is a work of fiction, but I felt robbed almost. Since I’m already amped up, let’s talk cheese.

What do you do when the MC is a girl that you do like not? Loathed at times even. Well you keep reading and hoping that you will grow to like her. There might be a string of sympathy, or empathy, that sets off a domino effect with a final hit of ‘wow, I wish I knew that girl’. But no, The Catastrophic History of You & Me left me thankful that I didn’t know Brie. (I didn’t get the cheese nicknames until a third way in because I’m not a big fan of cheese so I have very limited knowledge of cheese names.)

While her best friends and her boyfriend(s) and family loved Brie, I could barely tolerate her. She was selfish: selfish actions with selfish motives that did no one any good. It was all about her, her, and oh yeah, her. Brie didn’t care that she might have ruined someone’s life: college plans, friendships, public lives, etc. Brie’s mind only seemed to consider the immediate results from an action. Any long-term effects or consequences never popped into her mind until it hit her face on. Even then I felt like she couldn’t have figured out how it all came to be.

Would I call Brie psychotic? At times, yes. Her actions were extreme: breaking car windows, pushing an oncoming bike down, tripping someone where it breaks their leg, and so forth. Heartaches hurt. It sucks to be dumped and it sucks even more when you are lied to. But to assume only makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. And Brie did was assume the worst. I think being dramatic makes life more fun, but I would not to be her friend just in case she might stab me in the back (literally and figuratively).

While we’re talking bad things let’s continue on about the big reveal in the end. Everyone gets a HEA (happy ever after), but the build up to the HEA was clunky. A little foreshadowing here and there (but it’s pretty much the same scene each time) then BANG. I had a little trouble swallowing it—just a little—especially with the great emotion upheaval that makes me want to puke. We’re soul mates even though just a couple chapters ago I professed that my greatest love broke my heart and killed me so I should now try to kill him because “If I couldn’t have him, nobody could” (ARC 173). L-O-L. Freaking LOL. You’re 15 going on 16 going to jail if you were still alive. This was her first boyfriend.

I couldn’t connect to the love interests. They seemed more like good friends.

I didn’t understand her father’s infidelity. Maybe it’s because The Catastrophic History of You & Me is told through 1st POV and Brie is not the most astute character.

I couldn’t wrap my head around the mechanics of Heaven and being dead. (If there are extras to the novel, I hope they would include a couple of chapters from the D&G handbook.)



I did, however, like the dog. He rocked.

I liked the other characters that were dead. They had personalities.

Brie was not the only thing about The Catastrophic History of You & Me that has a connection to cheese; the entire novel was cheesy in the end.

Cover B-

Source: LibraryThing ER

Published: 2012, February 21; hardcover

Read more reviews:

YA Bliss's REVIEW

Sophistikated Reviews's REVIEW

Winging It (Dragon Diaries 2)

Winging It (Dragon Diaries #2) by Deborah Cooke

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

"Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.

Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets . . ."--from Amazon

Picking up from Flying Blind, Zoë and her crew of extremely hot boys never seem to be able to catch a break. Cooke engages the readers in the world of dragons and shifters that is every bit as fantastical as the first. Not a big fan of dragons? Well, these boys might change your mind from a cool, dark and handsome to a cutie pie, there’s enough personality to please everyone.  Don’t forget Zoë, our strong heroine who kicks major booty and still manages to find time worrying about her best friend.

Then there’s Jared, the elusive musician who seems to have all the answers, but likes to tease Zoë with riddles and come-hither looks. (Okay so I might be making the second part up, but he’s really sexy.) What I didn’t really appreciate was the progression the two made in Winging It. There’s a trend where the male characters has to stay away from the heroine because he’s dangerous to her safety, but it causes emotional drama between the two and he has trouble staying away. Yadda yadda yadda. Personally, I was not fond of the recent development as I’ve come to notice that by staying away, it benefits no one. The girl is still in danger; they both become really really sad and angsty. I do, however, like the last scene for the pair: sweet, charmed the boots off me, (and in my head, sensual, though many people won’t see that).

And what’s a sequel without the introduction of some new faces (with a love triangle!). Winging It has plenty of new faces, but it never gets overwhelming. I love how Cooke expanded the Shifting world (I believe that is what you call it). Forget thunderbirds and dragons, you can never go wrong with the classic werewolf. Or you know some new creatures like shifting cats (leopards, lions, alley cats….) Tons of fun to be had! Did I immediately fall in love with the all of the characters? Not really. There are tons of potential and more books to come so we’ll see. I’m not one to put all my eggs in one basket.

Now let’s talk about some old familiar faces. Meagan for one plays a much BIGGER role in Winging It. And if you’ve read the guest post by Meagan *hint hint nudge nudge* you know that she gets a special power. Let’s just say she won’t a damsel in distress anymore andddddd she might even get a cute guy in the end. You just have to read Winging It to find out. However, I found Meagan slightly frustrating to read especially from Zoë’s perspective. As readers, we know why Zoë is keeping secrets but keeping in mind that Meagan doesn’t know escapes me at times.

I love how Cooke also brought in Zoë’s parents. Even dragon shifters have marriage problems. It added just another dimension to this solid sequel.

Winging It was an action-packed sequel. Plenty of fresh new faces and many old ones that never gets boring. It had a clear direction of where it’s heading, some place where I surely would like to find out. With new questions left to be unanswered and relationships really heating up, you can surely bet that I will be reading Blazing the Trails.

Cover B-

Source: review copy from NAL (publishers)

Published: 2011, December 6

Amazon

Legend

Legend by Marie Lu

Grade: 4.5 stars out of 5

Legend by Marie Lu has gotten huge advance buzz way before its release date. It was the hottest YA book for a week or two, but then the buzz died off. After finishing the book, I’m happy and sad at the same time. Happy because Legend deserves the buzz (and the film deal). Sad because most of that buzz has faded away right before its release date.

The first thing I noticed about Legend was its presentation. The novel alternates between two narrators; the chapters alternate between two different fonts and colors. (Gold for Day and black for June.) It is awesome-sauce with a side of stunning! Kudos to whoever came up with the idea because it pops out immediately with its creativeness.

UK/Aussie cover--it is
kickass!

After finishing Isle of Night, I picked up Legend. I was apparently bloodthirsty that week. Legend while not as gory as Isle of Night, is no stranger to death and violence.

 "What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets." [from Amazon]

June and Day as drawn by Marie Lu;
more artwork

Legend, for me at least, reminded me a bit of Robin Hood and some of Aladdin. While Day doesn’t steal from the rich to give to the poor, he became a legend to the citizens as the one who stands up against corrupt government and military. He never kills; not even the enemies who want to kill him. He’s skilled, resourceful, and intelligent. And a big flirt. There is one question that lingers in my mind. When June read a profile on Day, his main ethnicity was Mongolian. So why does he then have blond hair and blue eyes? As far as I know, the darker phenotypes are more dominant than the lighter ones. I could be wrong and maybe it didn't say that at all about him being Mongolian.

On the opposite hand, there’s June. In terms of socioeconomic status, she’s far ahead of Day. She’s a legend of her own, being the only person known to have gotten a perfect score on her exam.

Separated, they’re both dangerous. Together, they’re a deadly combination.

Lu has created this perfect balance of the rich and the poor, of two misfortune teens struggling to keep their own worlds together while exploring this new world they just discovered. And with them is this group of characters who play key roles in the novel. While many are not the most likeable, there’s something memorable about them. Isn’t that the best thing an author can write? A character that’s sturdy even in the time of the YA boom.

Marie Lu’s writing style in particular made me fall head over heels. I love that she writes details to appearances, to fight scenes, to the scenario, and so forth without creating this massive block of words. It’s subtle. If I close my eyes, I can almost imagine how Day, June, their companions and families, the villains, all look like. Lu’s words gravitate out of the pages, into my mind, then twirl and dance and shape until this picture forms.

What weren’t subtle were the punches of surprises that Legend had. I know that there have been reviews where they felt it was predictable, and I have to agree…just not completely. There is one scene in the Legend that I’m sure they wanted to make readers gasp, but it’s been done before and expected. But there were still scenes with plot twist that I was not expecting. Lu manages to pull in external problems—corrupt governments and officials—and internal problems—greed and selfishness. There’s a lot packed in Legend, but it never becomes overburdened.

Legend by Maria Lu was the perfect balance of romance, action, with something dark in the shadow. Exhilarating! Addicting! Just gorgeous!

On a completely irrelevant note, I think someone can write a paper about nature vs. nurture with Day. Gah, too many psychology classes for me.

Source: unsolicited ARC from Putnam

Cover B+

it stands out because it's different and simplistic

Published: 29, November 2011; hardcover

Preorder on Amazon

Isle of Night

Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Grade: 3.8 / 4 stars out of 5

When people releases make comparisons for new books with old books that had great success, I scoff. So-and-so is the new Hunger Games, Twilight, Vampire Academy, Harry Potter, etc. Right…and my unborn child from the future will be the next Michelle Kwan because I’m Chinese and small.

But sometimes they’re spot on.

Isle of Night infused both elements similar to the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy to make for one gory, violent, and addicting novel. Survival of the fittest and this book is plenty fit to survive in the sea of YA novels.

Annelise “Drew” has drawn the interest of an old creature.

With her abusive father back home, and college no longer possible, the temptation to leave is great. When a mystery man with a Proust tattoo offers Drew an escape, she seems unable to say no. But the island where the mystery Ronan takes her threatens her life. For on that island, human girls are trained to become Watchers: partners to vampires.

And the only way off the island is to fight. To lose means death.

Midterms apparently make me violent as I devoured this book. Forget sleeping and studying, I wanted blood. I admit that the beginning was very slow. I admit that I read the first couple of chapters then decided to set it aside because I wasn’t feeling it. A couple of weeks later I craved into my imaginary pressures, and turned the next page. Let’s just say that I might have missed my bus as I left late all because of a certain book. Once I got over the initial drag of the beginning, Isle of Night became what Chloe Neill says, “A compulsive page-turner”.

It was exciting, thrilling and blood racing. But let’s go back to the beginning.

When we’re first introduced to Drew, we know that she is brilliant—a genius on paper. What I’ve read in several reviews was the question of how could a self-proclaimed genius follow a random stranger into a car to an island. And I felt myself nodding right along with that because it was also my initial thought. But then I decided to play the devil’s advocate with myself (I know, I’m such a dork). Drew didn’t grow up in the most stable home: her mother died when she was young, her father abuses her, and her stepmother just sucks. She can’t trust the male figure in her life that society says to trust. Why shouldn’t she trust this guy who she feels an instant connection to? Who is safer than her own father? There’s also the possibility of Drew being book smart, but lacking in the common sense department. Of course, I’m pretty much making stuff up that makes sense in my mind.

Drew is a multifaceted character with an array of emotions. She can be snarky, the new B in town, an awesome friend, timid, afraid, and happy. She’s human who happens to drink vampire blood to become stronger, faster, and totally kickass.  Her closest companions are obviously equally kickass.

Yasuo is a vampire in training. There’s not much divulged about this part in the island. Hopefully there will be more explanation and details about this in the following sequels. He and Drew hit it off immediately which provides some of the comic relief.

Then there’s Emma from the neck of the woods. She’s very quiet, but you want to be best friends when trapped in an unknown environment with monsters. It’s always the quiet ones in the back….

And what’s a good cast of good guys without villains. And boy, do you want to punch them in the face and run away screaming for your life at the same time. Lilac, the leader of the pack of hunger teenage wolves, is a ruthless being who physically and verbally bullies Drew. And just won’t die! Luckily, Drew can dish it right back to Lilac even with 99% of the girls out to kill Drew.

And there’s the seductive stranger turned mentor who pulled Drew from the old world. There’s not enough information or contact with Ronan for me to form a full opinion. For now, he’s tall, handsome, with a wicked accent, and broody.

Isle of Night ended with an explosion. With detail fight scenes, Drew’s cunningness in full light, and an end to a character that had me cheering, Isle of Night finished with an exciting cliffhanger. This, my friends, was not a bad ending at all. Isle of Night is the perfect example of an exponential line graph. (Have I mentioned how I’m a dork?) Started off slow, but immediately took once it hit its stride. My love for Isle of Night also grew exponentially.


Cannot wait for the next book.

Read an excerpt of Isle of Night!

Cover C-

Not feeling it at all. This one is a "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover".

Source: NAL publisher

Amazon

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead

ETA by Yan: Pst, this was written by Fallon. Who will be blogging with me. Proper introductions will be made soon. :D

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Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When Rose Hathaway was accused of killing the Morio Queen, Tatiana, Alchemist Sydney Sage was the one that put her into hiding. Now, Sydney’s Alchemist superiors distrust her, simply for the reason of seeming “too comfortable” with vampires. She is given a second chance; a job to accompany Queen Vasilisa’s sister and tie to the throne, Jill Dragomir, to a human school in Palm Springs and pose as her sister. With tension in the Moroi kingdom, Jill’s life is in danger, and Sydney has to keep the young girl under the radar of the vampires that want to hurt her. But things aren’t as quiet as the Alchemists promise. There is a nearby threat of Strigoi killings, metallic tattoos humans are getting that are eerily similar to the Alchemist’s own tattoos, and, of course, some romantic turmoil.

First off, I am a huge fan of Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy. Bloodlines is set in the same universe with the same characters including royal Moroi Adrian Ivashkov, dhampir Eddie Castile, and even Abe “Zmey” Mazur. I was excited to see that it was almost a clean continuation of the last book of the Vampire Academy series. Many questions were partly answered (Rose + Dmitri = ?, Adrian = ?, What was the deal Sydney and Abe made?, etc.) and I can only assume that they will be fully explained in the coming books. I was glad to see Rose make an appearance, and that she had a small part in the novel. It is, after all, Sydney’s story, and even thought I love Rose, I don’t want to hear any more about her. I heard Mead in an interview that she wanted to write Sydney as a character who was trying to become more impulsive (opposite of Rose who sought control of her impulsive actions). Indeed, Sydney spends half a page talking about how much she wants to be like Rose, and spends the rest of the book finding herself. She picks up on some of Rose’s habits, but is mostly calculating, so I thought this transition between narrators was well done.

Similarly, the characters were also consistent. Jill was always timid/in awe of Adrian, and she still is, but she also did some growing up. Eddie is still the stone faced guardian. Adrian is still carefree, but harbors a pain in his heart after what happened with Rose, but one could see that he is slowly healing…

…which brings me to the romantic portion of the novel. This is the part that I had the most trouble believing. I lost track of who is most likely to end up with whom. I don’t want to get too into it, but I didn’t like the romance. I thought there were three guys going after Jill and two going after Sydney, and the pairings I liked best didn’t turn out. It was so confusing and only cleared up, rather abruptly, at the end. I hope it gets better in the upcoming novels.

Other than the romance, I really like the novel. There were twists and turns characteristic of Richelle Mead’s novels, so it makes it a fun read, even if you didn’t read the Vampire Academy series at all. I actually read this thing in a day, and I’m a slow reader. A day is lightning speed for me, and I can only do it with novels I really enjoy. I highly recommend Bloodlines.

This is my real first review, so thanks for reading! If anybody has constructive criticism, I'd love to hear it! :)

The Probability of Miracles

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

Grade: 4.8 5 (because oh gosh I can't stop thinking about that last line) stars out of 5

This is a very early review (about 6 months too early) but I have to gush about this book. It was bittersweet, beautiful, and aspiring. It hits you so hard. (The book hasn’t even been released yet and I’m already hoping for more books from Wendy Wunder.) The Probability of Miracles surprised just as I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan did last year. Both novels give the reader the chance to believe in coincidence and miracles and the need to live for what is perfect now.

Snarky Cam is hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Cam has a rare cancer that's slowly destroying her body that is if the treatments and trials don't kill her first. On a last ditch effort to live her life, Cam and her mother and sister move to Promise, Maine where rumor has it the place is full of miracles. After living and working in Disney World Cam is far from being a full believer. But from purple dandelions to flocks of flamingos to a unicorn in her back yard*, Cam may have to reevaluate her opinion.

With a mix of 13 Little Blue Envelopes and I'll Be There and something all its own, The Probability of Miracles will break your heart, glue it back together, and shatter it all over again. 

Hi Buddy!

Cam was the perfect heroine for me. She was a genuine sister and daughter who fights with her younger sister and mother, but ultimately loves and cares deeply about them. Cam wasn't a romantic or a dreamer. She was sarcastic, she was real. Can breathed life with all of its ups and downs into the novel.

Life isn't prefect, but it can be pretty darn good sometimes when you let people in and the negativity out. That was what Cam learned and we as readers learned with her. Promise was just one more hoax that Cam scoffed at, but the small town with its motley crew of people melted the ice around Cam. She became a softer version of herself and started to be the giver of miracles.

The Probability of Miracles had an array of characters, which gave the book an explosion of voices and personalities. And yet it remained harmonious because at its center was Cam. She brought them in together from the perky sister, to the ever-fighting mother, to the sassy Nana, to the boy who taught Cam how to love, to the best friend who gave Cam a purpose when she felt like giving it all up. They were a perfect cast of supporters to the perfect heroine of an amazing and profound book.

It was slow in the beginning, but worth it in the end. Oh, the end. The last line literally made me fall in love with the book all over again and again. There’s wickedness to the humor, but lightness to the romance.

Savor this book.

*The Probability of Miracles is a contemporary novel and not a fantasy one. So the unicorn was my attempt to throw a little curve ball to you, but it is in the novel, just not what you might expect.

Cover A-

Initially the pink made me flinch but after reading the book, I love the pink. And the feather. And the long luscious hair, which is a big symbol in the book.

Source: ARC from Razorbill

Published: 2011, December 8

Amazon: preorder

Black Night

Black Night (Black Wings 2) by Christina Henry

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

Black Night is as hot and action-packed as its prequel, Black Wings. From the very first chapter, Christina Henry will take readers from the ground to the sky, from angels to werewolves to vampires to faeries. It’s almost impossible to settle down before being rocketed off to the next fight-for-your-life adventure that Maddy Black seems to be dealing more of.

The beginning lagged in my opinion that took a while for the plot to finally pick up. Throughout the entire novel, there was one question on everyone minds: who is killing the werewolves? That answer is ignored until the very end, which puts it in an awkward position. There was already a climax that proved to be a showstopper and yet Christina Henry went as far as to create another climax at the end shocked me. I had wanted Henry to weave the two problem, Gabriel’s disappearance and the murders, together and yet they were as a separate as can be. It proved to be a clunky read.

A problem that I originally had with Black Wings reappears yet again: the onslaught of names and paternal/maternal linage. At one point in the book I threw my hands up and thought to myself that everyone must be related to one another by some distant relative. They could be cousins (second twice removed blah blah), uncles, sisters, or something. Halfway through I resigned myself to not caring and ignored whether or not if a new character was related to Maddy.

Maddy for the matter remains to be the strong heroine who can deftly kick butt. With a sword that can do almost anything by her side and magic powers that rival many, Maddy tries to protect her life and her loved ones. As her power grows, as do the number of enemies she accumulates. Yet despite that, Maddy is still that rock-headed girl readers know from before. For all her flaws, Maddy continues be one my favorite heroine because she’s soft and hard at the same time. She doesn’t pretend to know everything and is unafraid to ask for help or shed a little tear. Even then, she’s hard when she doesn’t show her fear, tears, and sadness in front of the enemies.

The cast of Black Night develop in a way that I would have never imagined. Strangers become familiar, and ones that we thought we knew suddenly casts a shell around them. Gabriel is first and foremost the male lead I liked from Black Wings. In Black Night, Gabriel does not appear much. When he is rescued, his relationship to Maddy is altered completely. For better or for worst is to be determined in the sequel.

J.B. and Nathaniel’s personalities are finally unleashed in Black Night. I was able to understand them better and connect them to a level further than another-guy-that-might-like-Maddy. Their lives do not revolve around Maddy, but undeniable it is affected by her actions. I may have felt a bit bad for Nathaniel after Black Night (surprisingly since I did not like him in Black Wings).

The humor takes the constant pressure and stress of fight scenes off the novel whenever Beezle, the animated comic-relief character, talks.

With added characters, Black Night becomes a political battleground with fists and magic instead of pens and heated words. Black Wings series starts to shape itself as the chapters go by and hopefully by the third book, readers will find themselves with the full cast and the climax as a high. I am counting down and preparing myself for whatever next Christina Henry will throw at readers.

Cover B

Source: unsolicited ARC from Ace

Published: 2011 July 26
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Flying Blind

Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

There is only one Wyvern of the Pyr at a time and Zoë Sorensson is that lone female dragon shape-shifter. That is when and hopefully all her powers start to manifest. It is already proven that Zoë can shift when in a fit of rage, Zoë shifted to defend her friend against bullies. But controlling her powers and not letting the white hot blind rage take over will be Zoë’s biggest issue. Maybe the camping trip with the other shape-shifters will help things along.

In her debut young-adult series, Deborah Cooke already proves that she can string the readers in a sky-high tale. Make no mistake, readers will not want to be “Flying Blind” when delving into this new series or else miss all the actions, juicy romances, and dangerous twists and turns. Mystic powers, cryptic dreams, and a hot guy with an equally hot motorcycle make Flying Blind a joy to read.

Before Flying Blind, I already had a few books about Wyverns under my belt. And yet, Flying Blind was so much different because Cooke focused on structuring the story and building upon itself. Rather than concentrating on appearance and those small insignificant details, Cooke takes the time to engage the reader in the history of the shape-shifters. And what a history it is. I must admit I have a love-hate relationship with Romeo and Juliet coupling and was so pleased to find that Flying Blind does feature that, but not as the focal point. That’s not to say Cooke doesn’t take the effort to extend the reaches of the history. Opposing enemies and other shape-shifters play a large role in Flying Blind with just enough background information and motive to make actions plausible and the storyline fleshed out.

Zoë and the rest of the gang were a joy to read. Readers will get a feel on their different personalities and shortcomings within the first several chapters but I’m expecting more in the upcoming sequels. I can already imagine a romance budding out to be quite steamy if the smoldering looks weren’t enough. That being said, Cooke has the potential to do a lot with the relationships: romantic ones, friendships, family connections, etc. Tons to dissect. Though I wish the best friend would be included more, but the sequel should definitely make up for that.

I desperately want fun dialogues between two people in the near future just to get a sense of where they stand and how balance their relationship can be. What I find lacking in the novels I read are the simple everyday talk, not the whole stay ‘away I’m no good for you’ or ‘the his eyes pierced through my soul’ (gag). Fun, teasing bantering that reflects personality and can convey emotions. Flying Blind does include some great dialogue scenes where things become filled with tension, red rage starts to cover characters’ eyes, and long drawn out anguish takes over. Now I’m just waiting for the softer approach.

Okay before I end this review I must, must mention families and what it means in Flying Blind. Yes! to dads taking a center stage in a YA novel. I’ve read tons of novels where the mothers are seen more and the fathers are somewhere in the background. In Flying Blind fathers rule the air.

Cover C+/B-

Published: 2011 June 7; paperback

Source: review copy from NAL

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Magic Slays

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Grade: 4.8 stars out of 5. 

Sometimes starting your business isn’t all that much excitement. Kate Daniels has the reputation and the connections, but no one wants to hire her with the Order slandering her name and the possibility of pissing the Pack leader’s mate spelling trouble. When a renegade vampire comes barreling through streets toward Kate’s business, it means more than a little action for the day. It means a new adventure. Kate later gets hired to find a missing object and its owner and potentially save or destroy Atlanta’s residents including her own daughter, Julie. Trusty mutate poodle at hand and her best friend covering her back, Kate Daniels is ready.

Let’s face it I’m a shallow girl when it comes to book covers. I judge them, I rate them, I make rash decisions if I should buy a book because of covers. The covers for the Kate Daniels series had me avoiding the books at all cost in the beginning. The book ratings are high and the glowing reviews are numerous, but no, I just can’t. Let this be a lesson (which I’ll probably end up forgetting soon): never judge a book by its cover. The Kate Daniels series is action-packed, fun and sexy. Readers who liked Patricia Briggs’s Mercedes Thompson series will enjoy the Kate Daniels series.

The 5th book in the series doesn’t fail to impress long time fans. I’ve had ups and downs when it came to this series and I must admit Magic Slays has to be one of the favorites. For an author to continue to deliver to their fans without missing a beat or dragging the plot through the mud is such a welcoming sight. For so long I’ve been hooked on the first book only to be disappointment by the 2nd or 3rd. Magic Slays has all the elements that readers loved in its prequels and more. Magic Slays answers lingering questions while continuing to evolve the storyline.

As a not-so-big-of-a-fan of Curran and Kate in the beginning (because I found it to be so quick) I must say I look forward to their little scenes together now. While Kate and Curran definitely stand on their own without one another, together they create this dynamic relationship that just invites a grin. I love the power shifts which sparks some of the richest dialogue that deftly moves the plot along. The dialogue in the series is what brings the attitude, the somber tone, the teasing fun and the angst. Some of the important developments in the novel and not just their relationship occur in the dialogue between Curran and Kate. I enjoy that sometimes Kate wears the pants in the relationship while other times Curran does. There is nothing too cheesy about this couple; expect some strong fight scenes between the two that lead to, what else, some sizzling make-up scenes.

As far as the story line goes, Magic Slays further explores Kate’s powers and what she is capable of. Magic Slays deals with Kate’s blood powers and its properties. The novel also explores Kate’s extended family tree (you’ll never guess who is Kate’s aunt) and a couple of new characters and many old favorites. While I would have enjoyed some of the characters who were frequently mentioned actually make an appearance, I do find Ilona Andrews’ attempt to create more character struggles interesting.

Action wise, Magic Slays is spot on. Hope you won’t mind a little blood. Fight scenes are invigorating and a tad bit sadistic—always fun. The scenes are detailed without confusing readers about the very little (and pointless) nuances.

So yeah. This book is awesome.

Magic Slays was an excellent addition to powerhouse series that hits the spot. I cannot wait to see what else Ilona Andrews will come up with next, but I’m betting it’ll be good.

P.S. I've read this book twice in the past week or so. In the middle of finals week. No, I did not sleep. It was just too good for me to stop. And yes I realize these are fragmented sentences :)

Cover: see above. just not for me

Published: 2011 May 3rd

Source: unsolicited copy from Ace Fantasy

Amazon (available for pre-order)

What Happened to Goodbye

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Grade: 4.5 stars out of 5

Ever since her parent’s divorce, Mclean has accompanied her dad across the states per requested by his job. In every town and school, Mclean wants to reinvent herself from preppy, scholarly, cool, etc. In the latest town, Lakeview, Mclean may take on the biggest challenge of all: being herself. Mclean hasn’t been Mclean for a long time and it’s coming back to bite her.

Sarah Dessen’s novels are my comfort reads; I know what to expect from her works. I expect for my heartstrings to be tugged, my heartbeat to flutter, and my feet firmly planted in her world. What Happened to Goodbye was just what I needed during those stressful days of school. Some readers of Dessen’s work may be a bit tired of her predictable plotline, but not me. I think Sarah Dessen’s basic book skeleton can fit into many contemporary or even paranormal novels, but they’re still different in the details.

Dessen grounds the reader before taking them for a ride. We know the background of the story (why Mclean does what she does, why her parents divorce, how her dad came into his new job, and who’s who) before throwing them into a pot and mixing them together.

The characters are so human and flawed and mesh so nicely with each other that I went back and reread the entire novel as soon as I finished. Even the most evil of actions (cheating, lying, ignoring) is well explained with clear reasons that I can’t help but accept every sorry, every tear drop, and every line. Heck, I almost cried (or maybe it was due to stress) during one of the climaxes of the novel.

Fans of Sarah Dessen don’t want to miss What Happened to Goodbye. Seriously you don’t; pick this book up. It’s everything you would want and expect in Dessen’s novels.

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Source: unsolicited review copy from Viking

Published: 2011, May 10

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Falling Under

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Grade: 3.7 stars out of 5

The night Theia Alderson dreams of a burning man falling from the sky her life changes. But was it really a dream? Theia begins to fall slowly and slowly. Seductive and dangerous, Falling Under will make readers want to stay down for the entire ride. 

Falling Under is tale of Romeo and Juliet type lovers. There is an undeniable sizzle between the two, but both understand that they should not be together. Yet Theia and hot bad boy Haden Black cannot stay away from each other. In an alternating perspective, readers will grapple if Theia and Haden are destined to be together or destined to be forever apart. The question of time blurs between their two worlds; between normalcy and Under, a realm where your essence slowly disappears.

Haden initially is that typical jerk-face who flirts with other girls while stringing Theia along, but only doing it for Theia’s “sake”. (Which will really turn some readers off.) But! because there is always a but, Haden’s attitude does have positive effects on Theia. Theia is that soft spoken, shy little girl, but later turns into a stand-in-your-face girl claiming her spot besides Haden. That made me smile because a strong heroine who can decide her own actions without being bullied or prodded like a cattle is always great for a novel. Her decisions while rash at times speak volumes for the intense relationship between her and Haden.

Their relationship is neither white nor black for they both bring negative and positive parts. Haden is secretive about everything and Theia is naïve (as her father wants to keep Theia away from boys). Their relationship slowly shifts as they reach a balance of power—one leans on the other for support.

Gwen Hayes does not leave secondary characters in the shadow even with the intense relationship between Theia and Haden, but flushes them out. I wouldn’t mind reading companion books about any of the characters because they were sooooo interesting. We have a cross-dressing psychic, a preppy “goth” Asian who has some serious powers, a sassy friend, and a really nice (really really nice) jock. The characters were the supporting beams of the novel that kept the story bright and fluffy. However, they are still secondary characters because they don’t battle for the spotlight. They only emphasize what Hayes can do.

The world of Under reminds me of a twisted Wonderland: Fantastical yet deadly. One must barter to live and it questions if the life of Under is really “living”. There is potential for Under and its inhabitants that I look forward to uncovering.

Which brings me to the next point: THE SEQUEL. When I first finished Falling Under I had many and many questions wanting to burst out of me. Originally I had thought Falling Under was a standalone novel and prepared myself for a rant. The sequel will be out in 2012, no confirmed date nor title, but I will be counting down. I need to continue the story of Haden and Theia and everybody else.

Cover A+

fits so well with the book and still looking great!

Source: unsolicited review copy from NAL

Published: 2011, March 1

Where She Went

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

It’s been three years since Adam has last seen Mia after her recovery from the car crash that killed her entire family. Since then Adam and the rest of the band has risen like a phoenix from its ashes. They’ve made it big: platinum albums, concepts across the globe, trashy articles. But even surrounded by millions of fans, Adam is as lonely as ever. Mia has changed as well. She is now an up-and-coming cellist who is already starting to tour as well whose momentum is just propelling forward. In a little more than 24 hours before Adam leaves to London Adam finds himself attending one of Mia’s concerts. Breath-taking and so achingly similar to the Mia he once knew. As Mia and Adam reconnect after three long years the question becomes: why did I stay?

Where She Went has the same evanescent feeling like If I Stay of drifting on a feather through the novel …through a hailstorm. The novel is told through present times and reflects on the past. The time shifts back and forth as both Mia and Adam recalled what happened after the car crash. The car crash affected them deeply; Mia’s guilt of being the sole survivor had created a chain reaction with Adam being part of the spiral. If I Stay was pure love; Where She Went was raw anguish—powerful and destructive.

Forman is, without saying, a superb writing creating the life of Adam and his ups and downs. He is an arrogant, pompous, and general ass to the reporters while one look from Mia can turn his life upside down. Forman has taken the description of paranoia to a private art as the first person narration made me feel as though everyone is out to get Adam.

Where She Went was a private novel between Mia and Adam. Adam’s inner workings were in constant movement, debating this and that. Some aspects of the novel I felt were forced while others fell into each other too perfectly. The ending was wrapped too quickly and too nicely in my opinion. Other than that Where She Went was a great sequel to the impressive If I Stay. Side note: love the brilliant titles!

Source: unsolicited ARC from Dutton

Cover B+

Published: 5 April 2011; hardcover

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So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

Grade: 2.8 stars out of 5

Colasanti works has a way that fills me up with great expectations and jittery happy feelings and then just pops that balloon. Sometimes it deflates slowly, other time it’s a sudden pop. So Much Closer was a deflated slowly. The first book I read by Colasanti, I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The second okay was cringe-worthy. The third, So Much Closer, was eh. Ehs are the worst because there is hardly much you can say. Book by book, I am starting to believe Colasanti’s novel are not for me.

Brooke just “Knows” that Scott is the “one” for her, but she’s scared to tell him. When she finally builds enough courage she discovers that he’s moving to New York City. Coincidentally Brooke’s father is living in New York; suddenly Brooke wants to spend more time with daddy dearest and the better schools in New York than New Jersey. So Much Closer follows Brooke to the Big Apple where it’s not the view that changed.

Brooke is a genius with an IQ higher than most but Brooke doesn’t have common sense. Coming from a girl who has been told she lacks common sense, this is huge. Brooke hauls herself to New York to follow a guy she barely knows and he barely knows her. Her wild choice to chase after him may to some be romantic, but it’s a decision I find unrealistic. If someone had told me that they followed me to a new state because they think they “love” me I would creeped out—flattered of course, but I would think they were crazy. If Brooke and Scott were, say, best friends it would be better. Yet they weren’t; they were acquaintances if barely.

I found the little outbursts by Brooke random. There is some build-up, but not enough to make sense of the emotional, dramatic talks between Brooke and her dad, Brooke and her mom, Brooke and her friends back in New Jersey. Her decision for a career path and to take school seriously was so quickly determined that it’s just a flip of the page.

When Brooke accepts a tutoring gig in a school program to help John who has dysgraphia, Colasanti introduced a character that was likable, energetic, and charismatic. I was infatuated with John because of his bubbly attitude and optimistic views. John was definitely one of very few shining points to the novel.

So Much Closer needed to be more developed. Why is Brooke both cynical and romantic? The ending leaves many unanswered questions. Where will Brooke go to college? What about her family issues? Is Candice still really pissed because Brooke chased after Scott? What happened with Scott!? Was the guy at the coffee shop just part of the growing process because if so I found it unneeded…?

Source: ARC from Viking from LibraryThing

Cover C

it fits Colasanti's other works, but something about that one shoulder sweater--those colors!--and the guy makes me twitch

Published: 3 May 2010; hardcover

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Almost to Die For

Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway

Grade: 1.8 stars out of 5

Anastajia Parker turned 16 on the 16th, but it’s not a happy birthday party that will be the surprise. She discovers that not only is she a witch, but her father is the prince of the vampires. 

To say that I am a sucker for vampire books is a bad pun, but so true. I will gobble up anything vampires, werewolves, and faeries because I am a paranormal/fantasy nut. Almost to Die For is up the alley being my favorite genre, but I have to rethink this over the last couple of months. Vampires and werewolves have mushroomed in the last couple of years that entire books have become one giant cliché. Over and over again I’ve come across books that I may have read before: tweak a name here and there, alter their appearance and catastrophic teenage trauma, and viola. Almost to Die For has become that cliché for me and failed to impress me in almost every way.

Anastajia, or commonly known as Ana, is easygoing and laidback. She goes with the flow. Case 1) Nik—hot witch/vampire hunter—asks Ana on a date and that he has always had a crush on her. She says yes and internally squees.  Case 2) Next day: Elias—captain of Ana’s father’s guard—offers her a ride. She takes it. Nearly gets decapitated by the enemy. Brushes it off for the rest of the novel. He has to go back underground because he’s not a daylight person. She joins him. Case 3) Same day: Text from Nik. She of course gets bored underground with all the vampires who are asleep and runs off to bowl. They make out before heading to bowl. Case 4) Elias shows up in the bowling alley. He and Nik duke it out. Ana tries to stop the fight. There is no fight. Does she think before she acts? The consequences are much more severe now that she is a royal princess stuck between the two enemy worlds. I found Ana to be a quiet rebel who really has no idea what she’s doing.

I found Hallaway’s writing distinctive, but not for me. There were some sentences, and while proper, didn’t feel right. Example: “I determined to pay better attention for the rest of the class” (Hallaway 11). I am more accustomed to the sentence if there was a “was” stuck between “I” and “determined”. Every so often things like that pop up which makes me do a double read.

In all Almost to Die For offers nothing impressive with poorly executed storyline, albeit one that tried to add a little twist, and underdeveloped characters. There is leeway because it is the first in a series but when there’s two romances already happening, a pissed off best friend, and a mother who’s either hot or cold, I expect something. Almost to Die For falls on my level of expectations.

Source: personal copy

Cover B+

Published: 3 August 2010; paperback

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Hold Still

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Grade: 3.5 stars out of 5

Caitlin deals with the sudden suicide of her best friend Ingrid and how it might not be all sudden once she finds Caitlin’s journal.

Hold Still I was told was like amazing and so saddening. I think I’m just a clinical heartless bastard. I did not cry, I did not get teary-eyed or weepy, I did not sniffle or anything else associated with tragic news.

Hold Still is a good tale of the aftermaths of a suicide and how far the ripple effect reached. Yet I had trouble understanding wonderfulness that of which is Ingrid. I couldn’t comprehend this attraction between Caitlin and Taylor. I felt like I was playing a guessing game. Is the correct answer to this question/emotion/reason this? Am I forging my own tale within an already written tale?

I love the incorporation of Caitlin’s journal, the raw handwriting, and the approachable doodles. I love the motif of photography and how it captures that one perfect moment. I love the grip of Caitlin’s loneliness, lost of control, and over consuming bouts of grief that makes it sense as if every step forward takes you two steps back. I love the movement from the dark to the light in forms of a new classmate and her girlfriend instead of potentially shifting further into the dark.

And yes, Hold Still deals with issues of interracial relationships and controversy of gay couples.

Despite all these ‘love’, I am indifferent to Hold Still. While some may linger on after finishing the novel, I can easily detach myself.

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Source: personal

Published: 5 October 2010; paperback

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The Mercedes Thompson Series

The Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

[images link to Amazon]

The Mercedes Thompson series I realized when I only read the first book was something like swallowing gum: Thick, uncomfortable, and difficult to get down. But as I read more and more to the encouragement of readers who said that the second novel was much better than the first I was blown away. This series became addictive; I wanted more and more of Mercy and the wolf pack.

Mercy is a strong heroine like what you would typically find in urban fantasy novels with female point-of-views. I love how she’s slightly different from the rest of the characters as she’s a werecoyote rather than a werewolf that had to be dealt with diffidently. Briggs explains the pack magic and pack rules of wolves and how they differ when taking into consideration coyote. She does this in a way that won’t leave readers utterly confused, frustrated, and on the verge of giving up.

Mercy is ongoing growing character that continues to impress me. For one thing, she doesn’t simply roll over with her belly when a stronger, bigger, guy comes strutting along. She fights for her rights, personal space and territory, and definitely her friends. However, Mercy is not that indestructible superwoman that I am sometimes finding in fantasy novels. This is a future spoiler, but she does get raped and that impacts the novel 100%. Mercy is a girl and is vulnerable to such acts especially when she’s constantly fighting and dealing with males.

I love the continuous of the series similar to a TV series. While the episode might end with a cliffhanger or compact, there is always room for future development. The Mercedes Thompson series leaves readers not with huge cliffhangers, but definitely leaves some lingering questions that most of the time is answered in the next installment.

The love triangle is absolutely part of the continuation throughout the series: Team Adam or Team Sam. I crave these short scenes because they make the book much lighthearted in a heavy action packed series. I am also definitely a Team Adam fan. Spoiler again: I found it too perfect how Sam find his match.

I was encouraged to this series and now I’m encouraging you to read this series if you haven’t had a chance yet. Just be warned that it takes a while to really get into it.

Cover C
I don't think Mercy has all those tattoos and she doesn't dress so openly

Source: personal

I have yet to read 5 and 6, but I plan to really soon

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Grade: 4.8 stars out of 5

"Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris until she meets Etienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home."

What can I say about Anna and the French Kiss that others haven’t already said? Oh that’s right—nothing. So I’m just going to outline why Anna, the character and the book, is so great.

You should read Anna and the French Kiss because:

• It's set in France. It may not sound like a big deal, but Perkins emphasizes on the difference between America and France. She also brings forth the insecurities and paranoia of what others may perceive of foreigners. Having considered myself as a foreign because I looked different from my peers I was extremely self conscience of how I acted and how my family acted. I can connect to Anna in that way and it only makes me so much more attached to her.
• Flaws: character flaws and physical flaws. The main hero of the story is not perfect by any measurement. Etienne St. Claire is short, doesn't have straight, pearly whites, and isn't the all knowing-mind reader. But he's comfortable in his skin and he understands feelings; he just doesn't know how to respond to his feelings and that's reasonable. Human beings have flaws. Etienne is human so he must have flaws. 
• Anna herself doesn't exactly have that modelesque beauty that some heroines have, but they just don't realize it. She, like Etienne, doesn't have that perfect toothpaste commercial smile. She's stubborn, kind of blind-sighted, but knows what she wants...half the time. 
• Wooooo everyone is still smoking in this novel though.
• Relationship wise I like how Perkins delve in straight into attraction at first glimpse, but then stepped back and reinforced everything. There were open dialogues and excursions that both members of the party participated in that built memories. Perkins took the initiative to move the story along from strangers to acquaintances to friends to possibly more.
• The punchline. Oh Nicholas Sparks attacks *giggles*

Anna and the French Kiss was a superb novel that made me have faith in contemporary novels yet once again after a few disastrous misses. While it tends to slow at some points it shouldn't deter readers.

Cover B-

Source: ARC from Dutton Juvenile

Published: 2 December 2010; hardcover

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