Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went
Author: Gayle Forman
Hardcover: 264 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Year Published: 2011
Rating: +++++

Summary (from goodreads):

It’s been three years since the devastating accident … three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future – and each other.

Review:

I loved the first book If I Stay. I thought it was one of the best books of the year. It made smile, it made me think, and it made me cry a little.

This book gave m all of those same reactions, and also made me laugh and cheer. Adam is a perfect narrator. In the first  book, Mia was physically broken. In this book, Adam was emotionally broken.  Even when he was kind of a jerk in the beginning, I still wanted to reach through the book and give him a hug because he was depressed and hurt. Watching him grow and change throughout the book just shows how well he has been developed. I felt his emotions. His actions made sense, even if they seemed wrong or cruel to others. Since he is a rock star, it adds another layer to everything he has gone through. Since we saw everything through Mia’s eyes the first time , it was more effective to see it all from his eyes.

The structure of the book made it work as much as the first. By showing the aftermath of Mia’s accident slowly and in small chunks, made the effects and emotions tied to those events even more powerful. The pacing and structure of this book could not have been any better. It kept me turning every page and I could not put the book down.

When Mia comes back into the picture, I just felt so much joy. Everything isn’t perfect, but her staying was the best decision. Getting to see this character again and see how she has grown, and also how she is affected by the accident every day is moving and feels realistic. It is over or under done at all, which was a concern.

Forman is an extremely talented writer. The writing in this may have even been better than the first book. I cannot wait to see what else she writes. I know i will pick it up since her first two books were so brilliant!

Have you picked this one up yet? Let me know in the comments!

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Title: Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Hardcover: 183 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2006
Rating: ++++

Summary (from goodreads):

So you’re a guy; you’re at a band show and your ex, the girl who dumped you, walks in with the new guy. Looking for a safe exit, you ask the girl you happen to sitting with to be your girlfriend for five minutes . You’re a girl; you’re at a get-together and your least favorite female strolls in. The stranger sitting next to you asks you to be his five-minute date. So what do you? You lock lips . Nick and Norah’s instant connect begins a roller-coaster “first date” that takes them through Manhattan and into themselves.

Review:

First things first: I wish i had read the book before seeing the movie. Yes, I would have liked the movie less, but I would have liked the book more so it would be a five star review. My biggest problem with the book is that I heard Nick as Michael Cera’s voice the entire book, which was quite irritating. Not that he was bad in the movie, I thought it was one of the few movies where I actually liked him, but Nick has a better voice than Michael Cera gave him.

But other than that, the book was amazing. Nick and Norah are such developed characters. I can see them, feel them, and I can imagine what a conversation with each character would be like, which is the ultimate test. Norah was so relatable, and i think many females could see themselves in her. She is smart, witty, and is sick of the crap that is going on around her. She felt like a senior in high school trying to figure out where her life is headed.

The story was cute, fun to read, and the music references were awesome. As someone who loves music, I really enjoyed looking at the playlists and the lyrics throughout the book. But it works even better because if you are not a huge music fan, it doesn’t take away from the rest of the book and is not distracting.

I highly recommend this book to others, especially if you have not yet seen the movie.

Has an actor’s voice ever made a book worse for you? Let me know in the comments!

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Title: Boy Meets Boy
Author: David Levithan
Paperback: 185 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2003
Rating: ++++

Summary (from David Levithan’s site):

A dippy, happy gay love story

Review:

Ok, so the summary tells you almost nothing, but that is all you really need to know about the story’s plot. It is a classic love story full of twists and turns, miscommunications, and fun characters.

The main focus is on Paul, a high schooler who has known he was gay since he was in kindergarten. His town is a utopia of sorts. Everyone is open about who they are. The quarterback wears a dress when off field (and wears it well), sexuality doesn’t matter to people, and labels are non-existent. Well, they exist but people are much more than what they are labeled and everyone actually knows that.

Since Paul knows he is gay, it isn’t a coming out story, which is very refreshing. He is falling in love, really for the first time. It is treated like a relationship. There are trust issues, and awkward moments, but it is never because a character is gay…it is just because that is what it is like at the beginning of any relationship.

Paul’s best friend Joni ditches him and all of her others friends for a new boyfriend who is kind of a jerk. While I was disappointed in her actions, it was very realistic and was treated that way. There are no big revelations in the book. No one gets up and suddenly changes everything they are for no reason. Everything is slow and reasonable. It was a different type of young adult novel.

I adored it. I thought it was very well-written and the story came together so well. I had lines where I laughed out loud or wanted to clap at the sentiment.

If you long for a world where labels have no meaning and people who are different can live together in relative peace, check out this book!

Across The Universe Giveaway!!

I got a personalized, signed copy from Penguin Teen (Yay!), so I am giving away the copy I bought the day it came out. I ADORED this book, and you can check out my review.

I am so excited I can now give it to one of you! This book has been read, but is still in excellent condition. It is the hardcover also. I hope you read an love it!

Since this is a giveaway only post, if you want to win it, just leave me a comment. You do NOT need to be a follower for this, just leave a comment. You can get an extra entry for tweeting, just make sure you leave the link. Don’t worry about putting your email in the comment or anything – it is required for posting so I will be able to use it there!

Good luck to all and another THANK YOU!!! To Beth Revis and Penguin Teen.

Oh…and the contest ends May 4th

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Title: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares
Authors: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Hardback: 260 pages
Publisher: Knopf
Year Published: 2010
Rating: +++++

Summary (from goodreads):

“I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Review:

After being incredibly disappointed by Naomi and Eli, I was very happy when Amanda over at The Zen Leaf reviewed this book and said it was better.

I finally got it out of the library and read it in two days. It was a fun read with two characters that I loved. Lily reminded me a little of me at times (especially her love of Christmas) and Dash was just a fun guy to read. If I was a teenager in New York, I would find a way to put a notebook in the Strand to find my soulmate!

This book was just a lot of fun to read. I laughed out loud at times, and wanted to reach into the book and give characters a hug at others. I guess what I liked the most about it is that all of the characters felt real to me, and not just Dash & Lily, but all of the people in Lily’s family and all of Dash’s friends. I could see bits and pieces of my friends and family in all of them, so it made the book more of a joy to read!

I cannot awit to read Nick and Nora now that I have enjoyed a Cohn/Levithan collaboration. I have every Levithan book that my library has on hold right now, so you will be seeing lots of reviews – hopefully they will be as positive as this one!

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Title: Bossypants
Author: Tina Fey
Hardback: 272 Pages
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (Hachette)
Year Published: April 5, 2011
Rating: +++++

Summary (from me):

This is a collection of essays by Tina Fey, covering everything from summer theater’s effects on an awkward young woman, to breast feeding, to Sarah Palin.

Review:

I got this book for my birthday from my husband. I got it a few days later, since it came out on my birthday, but it was worth the wait!

I love Tina Fey. I think she is a brilliant, confident, and hilarious woman. She is a feminist in the best meaning of the word (aka she knows women are capable of anything and encourages young women to rise above stereotypes and expectations).

I don’t laugh out loud at things very much (something that annoys my husband to no end!) but I was laughing at every page. I even had to go to a different floor so I wouldn’t wake anyone up from my laughing. It was really that funny.

I could not recommend this book enough to Tina Fey fans. If you love her, you need it. I am glad we bought it because I will want to reread it again and again.

If you aren’t sure about her, but like funny women who are strong and stand up for women everywhere, read it.

Now, if you hate Tina Fey for her politics or her elitist tendencies, she has plenty of material to make you hate her more in it too (which she explains in the introduction).

This is the funniest book I have read in years. Whether she is discussing her life growing up, the inside of Saturday Night Live and Sarah Palin (which was absolutely fascinating), or her love for her daughter, she does it all with a sense of humor that makes it a joy to read!

Have Fun Read-a-thoning!

To everyone participating in the Readathon today – have fun! I have way too much to do, so I am not, but I do plan on finishing Bossypants by Tina Fey which I started last night! I can’t wait to review it!

 

Again, just have an amazing time today…I WILL do the one in the fall darn it!

 

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg (plus giveaway!)

If you are reading this from the feed, please disregard the first post and read this one. The first was incomplete and  had the wrong link and was published before being corected

 

Title: Prom and Prejudice     
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Hardcover: 227 pages
Publisher: Point (Scholastic)
Year Published: 2011
Rating: +++++

Summary (from goodreads):

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making?

Review:

I have to admit something. I have never read Pride and Prejudice. I don’t even know anything about it other than Colin Firth played Darcy in a movie  debut . I want to read it…but my list is so long that I have never gotten to it.

Yet I loved Elizabeth Eulberg’s debut and this book sounded great, so even though I don’t know the original I had to try it.

I just loved this book. Lizzie is so awesome. I could not imagine being in her place. She is tortured at the private boarding school because she is a scholarship student. It isn’t just name-calling, it is getting milkshakes thrown on her, coffee spilled on her, and nasty things written on her door and her wall. Yet she is a brilliant pianist and has the best teacher she could ever get so she pushes through it. She is flawed, but it is flaws that I understand and I think a lot of people could relate to her flaws and would be the same if they were in her shoes. It makes me love her character.

Not as much as I love Jane though. Jane grew up in the rich lifestyle, but she is also the nicest person in the world. She is always at Lizzie’s side and does not have a bad thing to say about anyone, even if they deserve it. Her kindness shows the hope that there is for people to look past socio-economic lines and I loved her.

I could go on and on why I love everyone in this book. I will skip some characters, but I know I have to mention Darcy. Oh Darcy. He was such a surprising character. He started off as a pompous jerk and he seemed to think that anyone without money was worthless. It turns out he is sweet and kind. I can understand why people love Darcy. HE is a great brother, has an amazing family, and is completely swoon-worthy.

This was such a great book. I think fans of the original would love it as much as newbies like me. It was a joy to read this book.

So I am giving you a chance to win my signed copy. I got to meet the author (who is amazing) a couple months ago and I got a copy signed for one of you!

Just fill out this form

It ends 4/15. You don’t have to be a follower to enter. There is only one bonus for tweeting.

Good luck!

 

Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

Title: Perfect Fifths
Author: Megan McCafferty
Hardcover: 255 pages
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Year Published: 2009
Rating: +++++

Summary (from me):

It has been three years since Jessica Darling (not the porn star) has seen her ex, Marcus Flutie. And the last time she did she rejected his proposal. Of course it is just her luck she runs into him, literally, at the airport when she is late. When she misses the flight and is stuck waiting at Newark International Airport, she and Marcus reconnect and really talk for the first time in years.

Review:

So apparently, there are a lot of fans of this series that absolutely hated this book. They didn’t like the side characters. They didn’t like the style. They thought it was the worst book in the series.

And I disagree 10000%. I thought this was the best book in the series and I have loved them all. Here is why

1. The style.

The first four books were all JEssica’s journals. This was not. It was a straight forward story with perspectives from both Jessica and Marcus. While it felt strange at first, it was explained why in the actual book. Jessica works for a group that encourages young people to tell their stories, but not in first person, but in third because that is how you tell important stories. That is how you explore what really happened. And that works for this book. It let’s marcus and Jessica talk because she isn’t writing in her journal. It lets the readers into Marcus’ head, a place that was off limits before. For a story as important as this one, it is perfect.

2. Jessica

She has grown throughout this series. She hasn’t lost her snarkiness or wit, but she has matured and grown in realistic and really exciting ways. I liked where she started but I love who she has become. I thought we could see that more in this book because we got to meet some side characters, like Sunny Dae. She actually cares about the girls in her program and what she is doing and it was great to see that side of Jessica.

3. Marcus

I finally got what Jessica saw in him, yes, him. I never got it before because I felt cut off from who he really is before this. But he is a great guy: hot, caring, sweet, insanely smart, and a perfect match for Jessica in every way. She is so strong that I never saw him as her equal until this book. Once I saw that about him, I was cheering and hoping for them the whole time!

This was just a fantastic book and a great series. I know McCafferty has a new book out that I will have to read because I love her style and intelligence.

I highly recommend this series, especially to women 17-26. It was great to get to read another book for true young adults that was not just about moving to the city and meeting the guy. It was something I could realte to and it felt like it was speaking to my age group in so many great ways!

Wishing the Weekend Wasn’t Over

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had an amazing one. My parents came in from Ohio late Wednesday night (well really really early Thursday morning) and left yesterday at three. We had a wonderful time. We did some work on the house, nothing major, but our spare room is complete done being painted, the living room is rearranged, art is hung up, and I learned how to use my sewing machine to hem to new curtains!

We also had a lot of fun just spending time together, playing games, and taking the dog to the dog park. My parents are awesome and i love spending time with them. My mom truly is my best friend. My dad is the nicest guy I know. I wish they didn’t have to go. I am always sad for the next few days after they are gone, because I am never sure when the next visit will be.

My 24th birthday is tomorrow and I am not really that excited. I wish they would still be here. I will be 24. No job. No feeling of accomplishment. I will be sitting in the house alone all day. Then, at night, we are eating with my in-laws. They are great people, but it will just disappoint me that my family is not here with me.

I just thought i would have more to say for myself by now.

I though I might do something special on the blog, but I have decided against it. I will try to review a book I just finished and adored though!

I hope you all have a great Monday!