REVIEW: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Published: 8th January 2013 | Dutton Juvenile
Genre: Young or New Adult, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, from library.
Series: Just One Day, book one.
Goodreads | Amazon | Author

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

My thoughts:
This was one of those books I was debating whether I'd buy or not, and now I wish I had.
I loved it.

I truly do not know how to review this book. I really have nothing to say other than I loved it.

I related wholly to Allyson and her state of mind involving friends and social situations.

I adored Willem and loved how realistic their connection was. It wasn't forced,but there wasn't much you're left to hope for. It's all there. Their emotion, connection...everything.

I cannot wait to read the second book, Just One Year which will be from Willem's perspective. You get a few clues as to what the story will involve, but it's an entire year. I just hope that you get at LEAST a day past the end of Just One Day.

Sorry for this short review. I don't know how to review a book I loved so much!! Just, read it.
I will say there were a few misspelled words, like being instead of been, but I honestly don't care!

[*Note: I will be going back to my old review format with my next review. I feel like it has more information for the readers!  And making a new signature. I hate that one. lol. ^_^"]

REVIEW: Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

Fallen Too Far by Abbie Glines
Published: 14th December 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Series: Too Far, book one.
Goodreads | Amazon | Author

To want what you’re not supposed to have…
She is only nineteen.
She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.
Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…
Blaire just may have fallen too far.

My thoughts:
I'm not going to rehash the plot and just get straight to the review. 

I have almost every book Abbie Glines has written on my Kindle, and this was probably the worst book to judge the author by. I haven't read any of her books before this one, and a part of me doesn't even want to bother with the rest.

Aside from it being so poorly written, it had absolutely no foundation to their attraction to each other. I didn't understand why she wanted him so badly when she rarely ever spent time with him. And because she never spent time with him, you don't get to know anything about him. Nothing about the book felt substantial or real.

I thought I was going to like the Blaire's character; she seemed so bold at the beginning, but she was just another weak, submissive girl who does whatever she's told by some guy who is a jerk whom she believes is absolutely perfect for no reason. Her obedience went beyond her fear of being kicked out, especially after she had enough money to move out. She was borderline obsessed with this guy she put unfairly on a pedestal he didn't belong on.

He puts her in a room under the stairs and I could do nothing but laugh. And did nothing but picture her as Harry Potter when she mentioned it.

I spent more time laughing than actually being in a serious state of mind.

She believes he is perfect, he believes she is perfect... Neither of them have any reason to believe so. At all.

There was a "revelation" towards the end that is meant to be a shocker, but honestly, I saw it coming. It was one of the three theories I had in mind. Nothing about it was shocking.

At the end she seemed to develop a backbone and hold her own, and then she quickly let that go for a "proper goodbye" that was just completely idiotic in my opinion.

I don't know why authors have this need to write about girl's who are just strong minded enough to somehow make them a protagonist that we like, but then tear it all down when she falls for a guy? Why can't she be strong, strong willed, strong minded, independent, smart and fall in love without losing that part of her. Without getting weak kneed every time he speaks or touches her? Submission isn't cute. At all. And I'm 100% over bad boys.

I will read the second one in hopes that I learn more about Rush and possibly get more of the other characters I actually liked, such as Woods, Grant and Bethy.

I'm super glad to see that Woods and Grant will be getting their own books as well!

[Cover: I absolutely love the colors and scenery, but that is the most awkward cover kiss. And her hair is too blonde for us to believe that's natural.]

I sincerely hope that her other books are better and they're not just taking up space on my Kindle.
Teasers: one | two

½

REVIEW : The Secret of Ella & Micha by Jessica Sorensen

The Secret of Ella & Micha by Jessica Sorensen

Published: 4th October 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Format: Kindle
Series: The Secret, book one.
goodreads | amazon | author

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

My Thoughts:
This book started off simply amazing. It was one of the best prologues I've ever read! But, it began to slow down for me. It didn't bring me in as much as that one section of the book.
Even though it wasn't as amazing as I'd had hoped, the book was still really really good.

I won't rehash the summary, and just get straight into it.
I've been wanting to read this book since I heard about it back in August, and I finally was able to get my hands on it.

I loved that Ella and Micha's relationship wasn't really a "will-they-won't-they" style and more along the lines of when will they! Micha was always there for Ella while they were growing up and their relationship crossed a line that Ella wasn't 100% ready for, but it was obvious that even though she was scared, she felt just as strong.

There was a part of the book, a person in the book that--though I did like him--I didn't feel like his storyline was necessary. And it felt like it was thrown in there as a filler, but it didn't annoy me, just something that didn't feel necessary.

I loved how Micha wasn't the "bad boy" he just was...him. I'm 1000% over the whole bad boy thing in the books that it's no longer even remotely attractive! [Please, stop authors.]
He was sweet, sexy, rough and fun.

Ella was a bit of everything, trying to hide behind her new identity, but her old self kept exposing herself at the most perfect times.

I do wish there was a bit of comedy in this, but I liked it nonetheless.

Memorable Quote:

"The scream that leaves my mouth could shatter the world's happiness into a thousand pieces. But the silence that follows it is enough to dissolve it completely." - Ella

I give it a solid 3½ , stars...er...owls! :)
[I really need to make "half" owls. lol.]

½

Waiting on Wednesday - Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. _________________________________

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
YA Contemporary | Scholastic | 224 pages
Expected Publication: April 1st, 2013
goodreads | author

Sixteen-year-old Mallory loves her boyfriend, Jeremy. Or at least likes him more than she's ever liked any other boy. She's suree feels the same way. Until she happens upon his online Authentic Life game and discovers he's cheating on her ...online Mallory's life is falling apart and technology is the cause. And then she finds a list, written by her grandma when she was Mallory's age. All her grandma had to worry about was sewing dresses and planning dinner parties. Things were so much simpler in the 1960s. And there's nothing on the list that Mallory couldn't do herself. Maybe it's time for Mallory to go vintage and find the answers to her modern-day problems.

This book sounds adorable, and I love the thought of a girl going "old school" and trying to live her life in a slightly much simpler time. I can't wait to see how it goes!!
That is one of two covers of this book, the other one here. I just happened to think this one was a bit more cute!

So. . . Are you waiting on Going Vintage?

Waiting on Wednesday - Since You Asked by Maurene Goo

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
________________________________________

Since You Asked... by Maureen Goo
YA Contemporary | Scholastic | 272 pages
Expected Publication: July 2013
goodreads | author

A humorous, debut novel about a Korean-American teenager who accidentally lands her own column in her high school newspaper, and proceeds to rant her way through the school year while struggling to reconcile the traditional Korean values of her parents with contemporary American culture.

If it's not obvious yet, I'm a bit obsessed with Kpop, Kdramas, and anything Korean. Give me a contemporary book about a Korean girl... And I'm sold!  I love the bright cover and adorable font.
I just hope there's some Korean in the book. It'd be awesome if it were in Korean, but I'm sure it'll be more reader friendly and use romanization.
Unfortunately there aren't any reviews yet, so I can't even get a feel for the book based on those. But I'm excited!!
And if you're doing the 2013 debut author challenge, go ahead and add this to your list!

Are you waiting on Since You Asked...?

Waiting On. . .Wednesday!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
_________________________________________

This is What Happy Looks Like
by Jennifer E. Smith
YA Contemporary | Poppy | 416 pages
Expected Publication: April 2nd, 2013
goodreads | author

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I read and enjoyed another book from Jennifer E. Smith last year called, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Short and sweet, exactly what I like out of a contemporary book. This one, however, is 416 pages, hopefully it's still sweet though not short. I'm unsure whether I'll buy it, e-book or borrow from the library.
If you've had the opportunity to read it, what did you think?

Are you excited for This is What Happy Looks Like?

Review: The Liar, The Bitch & The Wardrobe by Allie Kingsley

The Liar, The Bitch and the Wardrobe by Allie Kingsley
Published: September 4th, 2012 | Berkley Trade
Acquired: Publisher for review.
Format: Paperback
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Rating:

goodreads | amazon | BARNES & NOBLE

If you’re going to step on people on your way to the top, you might as well do it in stilettos . . . . . . Or so she’s been told. Lucy Butler, former wallflower, lands her dream job working for her idol, world-famous fashion photographer Stefano Lepres. But in a world where getting doused in coffee for not getting the order right is the new normal, she isn’t getting any closer to her ideal of being behind the camera herself. Then a superstar actress generously takes Lucy under her wing and teaches her the ways of the rich and famous—treating her to racks of designer clothes and introducing her to a life of private planes and penthouse suites. Soon Lucy is dating a rock star, attending the hottest Hollywood parties, and dressing the part. Lost in the luxury, she loses sight of the things that once mattered most. It’s going to take a hard blow from the high life to send Lucy back to the real life she always wanted. From an industry insider—and featuring wardrobes personally selected by celebrity stylist Robert Verdi—this is a novel that will keep you guessing and introduce you to a world you know exists; you’ve just never seen it unretouched.

My thoughts:
I was given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review...

Lucy has her heart set on becoming a world renowned photographer & after she lands a job with her idol photographer, she moves to LA and begins her life.
But things in the city of angels aren't always what they seem.
Though the summary for this book was fairly on, it was also a bit exaggerated and made me thing that Lucy was completely delusional most of the time.
Lucy live with her best friend that we know nothing about because she becomes extremely busy with her new job. The photographer she loved and admired isn't really the guy she thought he was. And it takes things like him yelling, cursing, throwing his coffee at her, coke and physically hurting her for her to realize.
The life that Lucy begins to live actually bothered me and I lost all sympathy for her when she took her first huff of coke. To me, that was the defining moment of who she was. Someone who followed instead of lead.
The friendship she builds with the actress Isabella Blackstone, though a bit over the top, seemed genuine and even with craziness (actual crazy), I kind of liked her. And that she always seemed to think of Lucy even with her being a 'nobody' in Hollywood. Lucy's guidance counsellor, James, was there for her in the beginning. Helping her see the future she wanted to see, even going so far as getting her a camera. Giving her a little nudge in the right direction. Even if it wasn't right for her. Because he knew it was what she wanted.
I felt that he had more than just platonic feelings for her in the beginning and hoped there'd be plenty of time with him. Alas, there was not.
She had her head stuck in LaLa Land, believing she had friends that she didn't and dating a rock star she wasn't.
All the 'Hollywood' that was 'exposed' seemed a bit out there for me, that I just couldn't really connect with the characters or the book as a whole!
In my opinion the novel was about drugs, Hollywood, and one girl who took a very long and unnecessary journey through it all for the art of photography.

REVIEW: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Published: August 31st, 2012
Acquired: Amazon
Format: Kindle

Overall:

Goodreads | Amazon

Four years ago, Jocelyn Butler left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Edinburgh. Burying the grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without any real attachments has worked well for her so far but when Joss moves into a fantastic apartment on Dublin Street, her carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate's sexy older brother.
Braden Carmichael is a man who always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Jocelyn in his bed. Knowing how skittish Joss is concerning any kind of relationship, Braden proposes a sexual arrangement that should satisfy the intense attraction between them without it developing into anything 'more'. An intrigued Jocelyn agrees, completely unprepared for the Scotsman and his single-minded determination to strip the stubborn young woman bare... to the very soul.

Contains strong adult content. For readers ages 18+

My thoughts:
Jocelyn, aka Joss, has been through a lot in her life and has managed to put it all in a steel trap door. Along with any emotions she may develop for anyone in her life. Her parents and sister died when she was just 14 years old and she was left with nothing but her memories and a bunch of money in the bank. After moving to Ireland she began to find her place, but never really opening up to anyone completely.
When she needs to move out of current flat, she finds the perfect place and possibly the perfect roommate and then there's the roommates obnoxious but devilishly sexy brother, Braden.

From the moment she meets Braden in the back of the cab on her way to Dublin street, I knew he'd be an annoying character that I just didn't connect with. No matter what happened or the amount of girls fawning over him, I would just not like him. The way that Samantha Young describes him made me think of "Handsome Squidward" {just click here to understand--I have a very active imagination.}.

Let me say everything I loved, Samantha Young's writing. Uhm, yeah... love. The sex scenes in this book were hot, but not in "a trashy, make you blush kind of way," more in "an ohmigawd that is sexy and beautiful and perfect and I want to read more." I could only hope to write those types of scenes that well. Her writing in general was so so good and I hope the rest of her books I plan on reading in the future are as good.

Even though I loved her writing, I just couldn't connect to this book the way I wanted to. Jocelyn was just too passive. And there were times where I thought even the most heartless person would've done the right thing. Her "steel trap door" shut way too many times for my comfort. I wished that she would have breathed. I get tragedy, trust me, I do. And people handle them differently, but the way she navigated the world was toxic to herself and others.

Braden. I do not do well with authority, bossiness or rudeness. I could not stand his attitude or that he was always so stern with Joss like she was his child. I don't find it sexy, at all. I don't care how you look, who you are, or how good you are in bed; you try to tell me what to do and the last thing you'll see is the front door shutting in your face. Even with his sweet gestures and how protective he was of his sister and Joss, I couldn't forget Bossy Braden.

Joss's roommate, Ellie--too adorable for words. I read all of her parts in an Irish accent just for the hell of it. She was fun, caring and a great best friend. Loved her and how much she cared for her entire family and Joss.

Overall the book was good, the writing was amazing. I just didn't connect to the main characters like I should have. I have read nothing but gushing reviews, so I know that this book may be right for most, but not for all.

REVIEW: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Published: May 8th, 2012 | Simon & Schuster
Age: YA Contemporary
Pages: 480
Acquired: Library
Format: Hardcover
Overall:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It’s been three weeks since Taylor Edwards’s father was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Up until that fateful birthday, she didn’t even know the word “pancreatic” existed, and now her world is upside-down. As a result, her family—never touchy-feely, always too busy for each other—will spend the entire summer at their lake house in the Pocono Mountains, a former yearly tradition they haven’t done in five years. This is where she gets to know her parents, older brother and little sister in ways she never imagined she could.

Here is also where she finds that the confrontation she walked away from at twelve has come back to face her once more at seventeen: Her old best friend is also in town, as is her first boyfriend. And for Taylor, whose number one solution to everything is always to run in the opposite direction of the problem, it might not be too late to discover that most of the good things always deserve a second chance.

My thoughts:
I was extremely excited for this book after reading and loving Morgan Matson's first book, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour.
Though I loved Amy & Roger better, this book was still great.
We start with Taylor who has just learned devastating news about her father, he has pancreatic cancer and doesn't have long to live. At all. And his last wish is to spend the summer with his wife, son and daughters at their vacation home in the Pocono Mountains. They haven't been there in about 4 years and it's the last place  Taylor wants to be. It's where she met her best friend and her first love, but it's also where she ran away from them.

I figured this book would be all romance like Matson's 1st book, and though there really wasn't much romance at all, I wasn't disappointed.
Taylor goes through a lot during the three months at the lake house, meeting back up with her past friends and loves and trying to cope with knowing when and how she'd lose her dad. She gets a job and tries to just pass through the summer as slow and as fast as possible. Trying not to run into anyone from her past, but that proves impossible.

I loved Taylor's drive though everything she was faced with,  but wanted to shake her at times for not speaking up about her feelings; whether to her dad, mom, Lucy, or Henry.

Henry: he was utterly adorable and I knew I would like him from the moment she runs into him at the dock outside of her house. Even though he too hid his feelings, I liked him and wished with every page in this book that there was more of him. I understood that this more about Taylor, her family and especially her father, but I needed more Henry.
Taylor's father tore me apart. It was extremely hard to read anything with him because I lost my grandmother to cancer and everything she describes happening to him was all too real for me. Like him going up or down the stairs. (I remember a time my mom had to carry my grandma down two steps because she couldn't do it anymore.) The quickness that cancer can take over if you catch it too late is the hardest thing to have to deal with. I knew that when the inevitable happened I would hate it. And I did.

But for most of the book, it wasn't depressing or sad, there were moments I laughed out loud, especially with her quirky genius brother, her co-workers and even her father still had a since of humor through it all.

I can't wait to read more from Morgan Matson and hope that she combines both elements of romance from Amy & Roger's story with the realness of Taylor's story!

Plot:
Characters:
Ending: ½
Writing: ½
Cover:

Author Info: Morgan Matson was born in 1981 and grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. It has since been published in five different languages and six different countries. Her second book, Second Chance Summer, will be released in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2014.

Find more on her: website | twitter | goodreads | facebook | tumblr