Mittwoch, 30. November 2011

Along For The Ride - Sarah Dessen

Title: Along For The Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Rating: 3.5/5

Auden needs a break. That's why she decides to visit her dad and her stepmother, including their new-born baby girl Thisbe. In the first few weeks her mother seemed to be right: People never change. Her dad is more focused on his work than on his wife and his new daughter, just like Auden's mom told her. All those negative thoughts make Auden staying up really late until sunrise. Then she meets Eli, who isn't much of day person either.


I needed some time to finish this book. Two days is a lifetime for me. I wasn't so sure to pick up this book. I liked This Lullaby and Keeping The Moon, but That Summer disappointed me a lot. I'm glad to announce that Sarah Dessen made up for that and is on my top list again!

What I really don't get is why Germany named this book Because Of You. Why did they have to change the title? I like Along For The Ride much better. Guess that's one of the reasons why I read it in English.

First, I can't believe that Auden never bowled. How can someone not love to bowl? I mean, I understand that she didn't do all the things other teenagers do. To be honest, I don't think that you always have to go along with the float, that's kind of boring. And I also think that she didn't do some things on her list because she was allowed to do them anyway. Like breaking curfew. How can you break curfew if you don't even have one?

Enough of that, uhm.. The only characters I liked in this book were Auden and Eli. Perhaps Maggie aswell. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this book, I did. But i.e. Auden's dad is really much a... I'm not going to use that word. He is an author and puts his work over everything, even his family. He never looks after his new-born daughter which is one of the reasons I'd have thrown him out. Eli's mom was right: It takes two people to make a baby, so why did he leave Heidi with all the stuff? It wouldn't have hurt to take the baby once or twice. I wondered how he was with Auden, but her parents only explain how it was with her brother Hollis. And then there is Auden's mom who thinks way too dark about everything. You can have an opinion, that isn't a bad thing, but she made the impression like she forced Auden to have the same opinion about everything. I'm happy that she lightened up during the story.
(Notice: There are a lot of books in which the parents of the main character are authors.)

A little note for Heidi: I imagined her to be Heidi Montag (who I actually do not dislike actually) in the beginning. All blond, not a clue how to raise a baby. I'm glad I was wrong with the negative thought here.

Eli is just wonderful. I didn't understand Auden in that "I-better-stay-away-from-him"-part. He is everything you're looking for: Charming, always listening, and hell yeah, even a pro at riding bikes. That bike thing is the main point here. Eli lost his best friend at an accident. He thinks it's his fault because he rode and ever since the tragedy, nobody saw him riding a bike again. It changes though when he meets Auden. Cute, cute, cute!

I probably should have written a lot more, but all I can say is that this book is great. If Keeping The Moon wouldn't be my number one favourite by Sarah, then this one would be.

Montag, 28. November 2011

The Sky Is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson

Title: The Sky Is Everywhere
Author: Jandy Nelson
Rating: 4/5

How do you deal with your sister's death? That is the main question for Lennie, whose sister Bailey died a couple of weeks ago. Lennie always looked up to her sister and now she is just gone. Who should lead the way now? She feels like she's lost. When Toby, Bailey's boyfriend, shows up, Lennie and he immediately feel comforted by the other one's present. He might be the only one who really understands what's going on inside of Len. But then there is this new guy Joe, who seems too good to be true. Feelings grow and feelings fade and in the end Lennie has got to make the right decision, not just the one out of pain.

Oh, I loved this book! I don't know what took me so long to finally read it. It was better than I expected, though I really didn't have any expectations for this book.

Actually, I'm not that into books where someone just died and you don't know how to deal with the grief and the pain. But with this book it just felt right to me. The story is really great and the characters are so real and honest. Lovely.

Whenever I read a book that includes a love triangle, I instantly know which guy or girl I prefer. It was very difficult for me here. In the beginning I liked Toby better, but then it seemed to me that he just wanted Lennie to be Bailey. Like he had this image of his girlfriend inside his head and couldn't see the real Len through that. I felt so sorry for her when I thought like that. I mean, he seemed quite hot, yeah, but then again you think: "Jerk, back off! You don't deserve her!" It was a decision out of grief, I understand that, but I wished for him to truly love how Len was.

On the other hand there is Joe. I don't like that name, because I always think of a mid-thirty rocker guy (perhaps because there is a guy in a German show whose name is Joe and is a mid-thirty rocker guy :P), but nevermind. He was that gorgeous guy that suddenly comes around the corner and you just want him and Lennie to kiss and live happily ever after already. It's a little more complicated with this guy though. His ex-girlfriend betrayed him, poor guy, and he never ever wants to feel like that again. Honestly, you just wait for him to cry or freak out or something. For me, he was a little too smooth, but I loved his character anyway. He was just as crazy from his thoughts as Lennie.

Now the main character Lennie. Well, I haven't got a lot to say. I liked her, but I was a little annoyed by her obsession about Bailey sometimes. Maybe because I just don't relate to that since I don't have any sisters or brothers. I wouldn't want to know her pain though. Her grandma was a little bit too harsh with her I think. Saying she was selfish and pretened like she was the only one who had a hard time. I never got the impression that Lennie was selfish. All she ever thought about was Bailey and if she could ever forgive her, if she even watched over her and all that. Since I'm an athetist, this wasn't a part for me either.

Though there are some points I didn't like or didn't relate to, I loved this book very much. The writing is really beautiful and the story itself also makes you think. It sounds weird, but I even dreamed about the story when I went to sleep and wasn't finished with the book yet. Whenever that happens I know that I've found a real beauty. I hope to read more from Jandy Nelson very soon.

Sonntag, 27. November 2011

So Over You - Gwen Hayes

Title: So Over You
Author: Gwen Hayes
Rating: 3.5/5

Layney Logan wants to be a reporter. Or the best reporter actually. The thing is, the school paper is dying and they need a good story and they need it now! Jimmy Foster has got the perfect idea: Twelve blind dates for every month of the year and find out what girls really want when it comes to boys. Layney doesn't know what's worse - to meet high school boys and not being intrested in them period, or spending time with her ex-boyfriend Jimmy. With memories coming back she is suddenly asking herself what she really wants.

Every girl clicks with Layney's character. At least that's what I assume. I sure did. She's full of doubts and her life includes issues. Not tons of it, but enough to feel tired. Maybe that's why she is holding on to this reporter thing. It's what she does the best and what she plans to do in the future. I didn't like her view on the future at first. Having everything planed like that and call herself married with the "job". This is something a thiry year old can tell me, but not a teenage girl. I was happy whenever I had the feeling that she loosened up a little. But I completely understood why she acted like she did when she told her shocking story in the end. I hadn't expected that! She dealt with it quite good.

Jimmy, I think, is the kind of boy every girl falls for. For good reason. “I told her I liked the way your name made my heart jump.” How cute is that? If you read about him first you'll think he is kind of a jerk. Teasing and joking around too much. But he is a good soul and has a pure heart. He wants to protect Layney so bad. He understands her perfectly and gives her the space she needs, never forcing her to make decisions she's not ready to make yet. The end of Layney's report should have said: Jimmy is the guy girls want! Because it's the truth, though sometimes you just wanted to punch him for making unfriendly comments, or comments that girls get the wrong way.

So Over You is a very realistic young adult story. I liked it a lot and I'm actually a little disappointed by myself for not picking this book up earlier. It didn't do as good for me as for my friends on Goodreads, but it didn't fail either.

This was my second Gwen Hayes book, and I am proud to say that she can write both genres damn well - Fantasy and Young Adult. Will I read her other books? Sure thing!

Looking For Alaska - John Green

Title: Looking For Alaska
Author: John Green
Rating: 3/5

"I whispered, 'Do you want to be my girlfriend?' And she said, 'Yes please,' and smiled." - Miles to Lara

Miles Halter isn't much of a popular guy. In order to change that, he decides to go to a boarding school in Alabama. What he didn't expect was that a girl like Alaska could turn his world upside down. His new friend and roommate Chip, known as the Colonel, warns him. Things with Alaska would never be what Miles imagined. She is acting strange sometimes, yet Miles still want her. But then everything changes and Miles has to face that remembering last people's words isn't always an advantage.

My summary basically sucks. It's really tough to describe this book anyway. Tried my best.

John Green, what can I say? It's not that I didn't like this book, I did. But I assume I'm just not that into all these we're-all-so-mortal-books.

What I liked the most was the fact that John Green has a great point of view for me here: A boy admitting his love to a girl without having slept with her yet. I loved that, because in a lot of other books, you always read the boy admitting his love after they slept together or they sleep together and he never admits his love. I don't like the idea of that. It's simple: Whether you love someone or not. Why should you wait that long to tell the person of your dreams? What's to fear? Enough said now, just wanted to make clear that I liked it.

Miles, Lara and Chip are my favourite characters here. Chip pretends to be that super cool guy, though he actually can be sensitive too. I imagined to hear Lara's accent through the book. I bet she is a cute little girl and you'd never expect her to do some naughty things. Not even sneaking out at night or something. And then there is Miles. I wanted to hug him and comfort him, but sometimes he has those weird point of views (I'm using the sentence point of view too often!). At least he respects women and he also seems really cute. Gosh, I'm out of words lately.

The idea of this so called labyrinth was tempting to me. Probably because I think about life that way sometimes too. I caught myself thinking about the things the characters are taught in class. And I agree with them - when you're older you just hope to find the way out of that labyrinth and a great firework waiting for you, saying you made it. And then you'll look behind and see the people you left there and the memories are fading away until they are PUFF! gone. So, this book makes you think about life and the journey of life.

I could say how I wished for different things to happen in Looking For Alaska, but I like it as it is and I'm happy John Green wrote it like that. The way he thought was right and it is. Some parts made me want to smile, some made me really sad and when I closed my eyes, I pictured the story perfectly. So, even though I gave this book three stars only, those are good three stars. I'm looking forward to read other books by John Green. Those are my final words. I wonder if Miles would remember them. :P

Mittwoch, 23. November 2011

It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #02) - Jenny Han

Title: It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #02)
Author: Jenny Han
Rating: 4/5

It's the kind of shock nobody wants to know of or even feel: Susannah, best friend of Belly's mom, died. It doesn't seem fair. To Belly, Susannah was a second mother. If she feels so strong pain already, she doesn't know how Susannah's sons Jeremiah and Conrad are dealing with it. The answer comes along - one day Jeremiah calls Belly and tells her that Conrad ran off. Jeremiah and Belly are searching for him and soon they find theirselves back at where everything started - at Cousins Beach.

I don't know what to say actually. I liked the second book even better than the first. That's probably because there are also views from Jeremiah's point of view and since he is my favourite character in this book, I really liked those parts. If you asked me, he is the better match for Belly. I don't even know why she started something with Conrad. Of course I'm feeling sorry for his loss in this book, but he doesn't behave that friendly and nice. I don't like him all too much as you can see.

Again, I liked the flashbacks like Belly remembering her prom with Conrad. Sometimes the flashbacks confuse me, but I like them anyway.

I'm excited to read the third and final book of this series. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Montag, 14. November 2011

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #01) - Jenny Han

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #01)
Author: Jenny Han
Rating: 4/5

Oh, how I long for summer now!

It's the same thing each summer: Belly, her brother Steven and their mom visit her mom's friend Susannah at the beach. Those two months have always been the best for Belly, especially because of Susannah's sons Jeremiah and Conrad. They never really saw her the way she wanted to, but this summer everything changed. Both act different when she's around now and Belly herself got to admit that she likes it. But who of those two does she like better? And what's the deal with Susannah lately? One summer to find out.

The more I think about it, the more this book reminds me of the How To Ruin series by my ultimate favourite author Simone Elkeles. Since I read the second book of this series aswell, I can say that I like the Summer series a little better. At least that's what my brain tells me right now.

The story is simple: Two boys (two brothers by the way) want the same girl. And whooo - I liked this book a lot! Five stars might be overrated, so that's why only four stars for me.

Belly is the kind of character I love and hate at the same time. She is cute and stuff, but I'm not sure if 'd want to be friends with her if she existed. Sometimes I wondered if she knew what she wanted herself. Obviously, she did not and that's what made me want to scream.

Conrad is the popular one, I think. You know, all the girls want him and he could have them all, yet it seems like he is afraid to open his heart for someone. No big surprise here, his first love broke his heart. Guess that had him crush hard. Great crated character, but I hated him though. His personality is bleh to me.

Jeremiah. Characters like his make me want to be a witch like Sabrina and ask my aunts to bake him. He is super sweet and I'm feeling sorry for him at so many parts. I hated how Taylor always called him Jeremy. Jeremiah is a good alternative name and rarely used. I liked that. He cares so much for Belly and they even might belong together in my eyes, but I wouldn't be happy with them as a couple then again. It's confusing, I know.

So . . . It's definitely a book for girls. I wouldn't mind boys reading this kind of books too. Maybe they'd finaally understand us girls a little better then. Think about it guys ;) Reading this book wanted me to be back in summer, lie on the beach and see the waves in front of my feet. It's a really cute book and I also loved the view of it - those turning backs to Belly's childhood. I'm glad I found this one.

Sonntag, 13. November 2011

The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #01) - Abbi Glines

Title: The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #01)
Author: Abbi Glines
Rating: 4/5

One of the best books I read so far. :)

Ashton Gray has the perfect life. That also includes the perfect boyfriend, Sawyer. But Sawyer is on a trip with his family for a while and just then Beau, his cousin and the bad boy in town, shows up and turns Ashton's world upside down. With him she doesn't feel like she has to be perfect. He doesn't want her to be something she is not. She sees her as she is.

Beau loves Ashton since they were kids. He never had the guts to ask her out anyway, leave alone tell her how he feels about her. When his cousin Sawyer is out of town, he sees the perfect chance to get closer to the girl of his dreams. Even though he knows she means trouble and is also well aware of the fact that she is too good for him.

OH MY GOSH! I loved this book so much! I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed a bit. This books has the main thing for teens - love triangle and a lot of drama, oh yes! We all love that, don't we?

Ashton, Beau and Sawyer. First I love the name's choice. I mean, you don't read these names very often in books or anywhere else. Good choice Abbi!

Ashton - She really can't decide who she loves more and what is right or wrong. She wants everyone to be happy with her choices, even though sometimes those make her unhappy herself. She doesn't care. She needs to be the good girl everyone wants her to be. There were parts when I wanted to yell at her and tell her she should quit all the good-girl-show, but that's what the drama is about. Lovely character though because teenage girls totally get her.

Sawyer - What a softie! I'm happy he doesn't appear that often in the beginning, he would have ruined everything. His character takes the drama a little further and makes everything more explosive in my opinion. So not a bad thing! I'm happy with the way he is and he is very cute too. The way he teels Ashton he plans a future with her and stuff. Very cute, but not quite that what girls are looking for. Well, they are looking for that, but the relationship has to be special too. It just wasn't with those two for me and for everyone else I think. I felt bad for him anyway. Poor Swayer.

Beau - Don't get fooled by his name! He is everything but good or nice or whatever. I bet if he'd exist, he'd be damn hot. I can't help but like characters like his. Those typical bad boys who you want to punch because they slept with so many girls until they realize: "Hey, I love someone else and want to spend the rest of my life with her." I like the parts of his kind of view even better than those of Ashton. He has a cute way to think of things, especially of Ashton of course. And once again I wonder why real guys can't be like that.

Four stars because I think the thing between Ashton and Beau took off a little too fast. But actually there is nothing I can add. I adored this book, I'd definitely recommend it and it's just amazing! And the cover is extraordinary as well, so thumbs up for that. I wish there was a second book, but story's over, told and done.

Samstag, 12. November 2011

Fall For Anything - Courtney Summers

Title: Fall For Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Rating: 4/5

This book is different from what I expected it to be. In a good way, of course.

Eddie Reeves' father, a famous photographer, is dead. He commited suicide. No one had a clue and no one knew his plans. Now all there's left is Eddie questioning herself Why? No father would leave his daughter behind, right? While she tries to find out anything she meets Culler Evans, the only student her father has ever taught. Along with him and Milo, her best friend who found her next to her dad the night he commited suicide, Eddie's on a search for answers. But can her questions be answered if she finds herself more attrachted to Culler than she'd like to admit? What if you sometimes just better leave things as they are?

I'm a little depressed since I wrote a very long review and my internet just deleted like everything of it. Whatever. This was my second Courtney Summers book I read (my first was Some Girls Are) and even though I gave both four stars, I think I liked Fall For Anything better. It takes you on a journey and is mysterious in some kind of way. I love that. You sink into it and don't want to put the book down. Maybe that explains why I read it all at once.

The characters. Eddie - I disliked her in the beginning, but then I grew warm with her. Sometimes I was a little annoyed that she seemed to get used to her father's death, and in the next moment she freaked out completely. But perhaps that made her seem more real even.

Milo - The perfect best friend, I think. Everybody wants a friend like Milo. Yet I think he was a little too cute. Yes, you can be too cute, it's possible. He was too soft. Since I don't know any guy like that, he was more like a fantasy character to me.

Culler - Oh, my favorite! I was disappointed by him in the end, but I loved him during the story. I don't know why, but there was something about him. What I disliked about him was how he talked too much about Eddie's father being his big idol. But he was his idol, so that's just how it goes.

All in all I liked the book a lot! I'm happy I finally got to it. The story was brilliant, though I'll never be all too happy with the end. Hope Courtney won't take that too harsh - I'm never quite happy with endings or couples. Something is always wrong for me.

I can't say I'd recommend this book to fans of blah and blah. I'd recommend it to everyone, who I know have a fabulous taste in books! Four stars!

Montag, 7. November 2011

Book of Shadows (Wicca / Sweep #01) - Cate Tiernan

Title: Book of Shadows (Wicca / Sweep #01)
Author: Cate Tiernan
Rating: 3/5

I don't know why I'm giving this only three stars. Maybe because I'm a little annoyed by Morgan's parents and her "best friend" Bree. I'd have given it four stars, but since there are a lot more books of this Series, I bet it'll happen with one of them.

Morgan is a Junior at high school and since high school girls fall in love very easily, it's no big surprise that Morgan finds herself falling for the new guy Cal. Only that there seems more to it. When he invites her and some other students (which also includes Morgan's best friend Bree) for Wicca meetings, she senses that she is special by owning some special powers. Bree (who has a crush on Cal aswell) wants her to stay away from Cal and the coven he is setting up, but what if this is Morgan's destiny?

I liked this book a lot. Morgan is a very good character, I like the way she thinks and stuff. Cal is that typical mysterious guy every girl is falling for, even in the normal world. He could talk a little more perhaps. But he is just fabulous! As I already said, I didn't like Bree that much, just because I wouldn't stand a girl like her in reality too.

I will definitely keep up with this series. At first I was a little afraid that it might disappoint me, but it so did not! Cate Tiernan is a great author and I'm glad I discovered this series. It's something different from other paranormal books and yet the same kind of idea. The book itself is special. Worth reading, all the way!

The Coven (Wicca / Sweep #02) - Cate Tiernan

Title: The Coven (Wicca / Sweep #02)
Author: Cate Tiernan
Rating: 3/5

So many hateable characters in the second book, oh no!

Morgan Rowlands is a powerful blood witch. No way denying that, it's undeniable and even Morgan has to face that. But how can she possibly be a blood witch if her parents aren't? There's only one logical explanation: She must have been adopted. Along with her boyfriend and coven member Cal she tries to get some information. She never expected that the truth might change her life.

Good thing: For the first time in my life I am happy with the first matched couple in a book. Normally, I like the second matched couple better or wish for two to come together who'd never ever make a couple. So plus point for that!

"You're the kind of girl that you don't notice is beautiful until you get real close. And then all of a sudden it hits you" he whispered "And you think. Goddess, make her mine ."
I absolutely love Cal. Seriously, he is so damn cute and sweet and romantic. Why can't real boys be like that? So unfair! There are some parts where I thought: "Morgan, watch it! He just likes you because you're a witch." I'm scared of what's to come up next.

I also start to like Robbie a little more, but he seems to have a crush on Bree. So not understandable and forgivable at all. I'm not sure if I ever disliked a character as much as I do with Bree. I mean, I like that Cate created her but she is such a bitch. Why would Morgan ever want to be a friend with someone like her?!

I don't know what else to say. Not sure if it's better than the first one. I like them both so much. But this one was a better read for me because I loved those Cal parts. So, much more romantic in this book. There's more adventure here and cate takes you on a fabulous reading trip. I'd recommend it anytime, to any fans of Charmed and other paranormal shows. It has so much high school sparks and yet so many mysterious and dark parts aswell. Just great!

Donnerstag, 3. November 2011

Bloom - Elizabeth Scott

Title: Bloom
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Rating: 4/5

It took me two months to finally read this book. Great decision, yay me!

Lauren has the perfect life. She gets good grades, has a great boyfriend and actually everything seems just perfect. And even though her mom left a long time ago, she should be happy, right? Unfortunately Lauren isn't happy at all. She feels like she is lying to herself by pretending to be the perfect girl. But keeping the Status Qou seems the right thing to do. It's what people expect of her.

But then Lauren sees and old face again - Evan, who is the son of Mary, one of the oh-so-many old girlfriends of her dad. Maybe he can be the one to teach her that sometimes the imperfection make you seem perfect to someone when you least expect it.

It's a shame that I read Bloom now. I should have gotten my hands on it sooner! Strange thing is that this book doesn't include any new, special things and yet it's very good. I loved Evan but Lauren seemed so stubborn sometimes. A little too stubborn maybe. I disliked her father, though he was very gentle in the end. All in all Elizabeth created some very good and different characters here. I would have wished to meet Lauren's mom, but well, can't have it all I guess.

It's the second Elizabeth book that I read. Can't wait to read her other novels. And for all those who can't decide if they should read Bloom - what the hell are you waiting for?! :D