Late Book Haul Post!

    

    First of all, I'm sorry that I haven't read/posted for a lengthy couple of days. :) I went on an overnight class trip to the capital city, and of course, there was no time to read, but I did manage to complete one book! :)

     This is a late book haul- I received these books before my trip, but here's the haul. :) Thank you to Wendy Darling from The Midnight Garden, who has granted me the opportunity to have these books. I won part of her Spring Giveaway, for the Lighthearted Contemporary Bundle!

        I actually have wanted Don't Even Think About It for a long time! SO YAY FOR THAT and the rest of the these amazing books! 

        Thanks a million to Wendy, and for these amazing books for existing. <3

One Broke Girl, by Rhonda Helms

One Broke Girl (Edgewood Falls #1), by Rhonda Helms

Genre: Contemporary, Chick-lit, Romance, Adult

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Book #: 1

Publication: April 2014

Format: ebook







Goodreads Summary: Anna Parker’s life disintegrates with one phone call. Her dad’s selling their ritzy New York City condo because her Wall Street banker mom emptied their bank account and ran off with another man. Which means Anna has to drop out of her elite college and move with Dad back to their small Ohio hometown. Anna’s determined to reclaim her life ASAP, so she’ll use the next few months to save money, help Dad get back on his feet, and find and confront her mom.

But Anna doesn’t anticipate things going so wrong. The only job she can get is working as a lunch lady in an elementary school. Their money-pit duplex is falling apart around their feet. And her dad is depressed without her mom, who's proving hard to find.

One bright spot in the chaos is Gavin Metcalf, a kindergarten teacher she dated when they were young teens. With his easy wit and sexy smiles, he makes her forget her stresses—and the fact that her boyfriend Steven back in New York doesn’t know the truth yet about her dire circumstances. When past and present collide, Anna has to decide where her future lies...

Review:

 Review copy provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for a honest review.

  This is one of the first New Adult books I've read, and I absolutely adored it! What more can I ask for?!

   This is probably your most ultimate cheesiest chick-lit story you have ever heard of... from reading the summary. This is about Anna Parker, who is your average rich girl living in New York with an almost perfect life. When her mother suddenly abandons her and her dad, Anna drops out of college and moves back to her old Ohio hometown, Edgewood Falls, with all of her hopes and dreams completely crushed. When she meets Gavin Metcalf, a kindergarten teacher she once dated when she was younger, she falls completely head over heels. What she doesn't know is that he might be the one to change her life forever, and ruin her relationship with her at-the-time boyfriend, Steven who doesn't even know the truth about what really happened with her mother.

   This was Anna the whole time:

   

   This girl had SO many problems to deal with. They came in one after the other, at 30000 km/h. And here we go; the negative part. I didn't like Anna that much. There, I said it. It felt like the worst decision in my life (back to the decision thing) to say that, because this was an amazing book, except for her. Although we had to read the book in her point of view and watch her struggle and fall in love with Gavin, I didn't like her, but it didn't really effect the book's circumstances that much. It did, obviously, but not too much. And that's okay. 

    Anna doesn't know how to deal with her problems. She's very self-conscious and always thinks about things at the last minute, and then she ends up being stupid and ruining everything. She doesn't think about the what ifs or about what her decisions can come to, she just goes with the flow, way too much.

    Another thing about the cheesiness: it's so cutesy and beautiful that you just forget about the cheesiness the book has going on here. It's just so good and the romance just turns you inside out. It's a beautiful story that could be predictable at times, but is definitely worth the while and 117 pages to read. No wonder it was so fast-paced and quick, 117 pages is almost nothing!

     The plot was a complete wild ride. Because of Anna's craziness and not knowing what to do-ness, you never can imagine what she's gonna do, although we all saw the fierce ending coming. (Who wouldn't after reading the summary?)

    The characters... GAVIN.

    

     Ahh, the sensations. I just wish that he wasn't so bulky and macho. But haha, he was amazing and sexy and everything else you can imagine about your dream guy. But don't you think the kindergarten teacher thing is hilarious? xD It cracks me up. What an awesome mind Rhonda Helms must have. *dreams*

     So yes, Gavin was absolute perfection and gave me spaz attacks because he's just too beautiful. Of course I fall in love with the character that the protagonist falls in love with. *face palm* I'LL NEVER GET THE GUY. 

     Now, I saved the best part for last because I know that all of you beautiful and amazing people will read my review until this point. THE ROMANCE. HOLY CRACKIN' COW. THIS ROMANCE JUST MADE ME GO MAD. It was probably the best romance I've ever read (from the romance part of things) and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. B E A U T I F U L. It made me go mad. If you're looking for a mind-blowing romance, then pick up this book. That's final.

     Overall, this book was amazing, and I seriously thank Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours for granting me this opportunity to read it. I NEED THE SEQUEL ABOUT NATALIE ASAP. *checks release date* Ouu, August 2014, THAT'S CLOSE, WOOT WOOT. *parties*

Mini-Review:

-I absolutely adored this book, it gave me the feels and made me go craziness in fangirl terms.

-The worst part was Anna and her stupidity. But that's okay.

-The plot was so fast paced and so much was happening! I was never bored!

-I LOVED GAVIN AND THE ROMANCE, OMG.

-Overall, this was an amazing romance/New Adult book. Yay for Edgewood Falls!

Vengeance, by Megan Miranda

Vengeance (Fracture #2), by Megan Miranda

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Murder/Thriller

Rating: 2/5 stars

Book #: 2 (Final Novel)

Publication: February 13, 2014, by Bloomsbury Children

Format: ebook




Goodreads Summary: Falcon Lake wants vengeance. And so, it seems, does someone else... An intense, heart-rending psychological thriller to accompany the chilling and seductive Fracture

When Decker drags his best friend Delaney’s lifeless body out of the frozen lake, he makes a deal: Anyone but her. Everyone but her. The lake releases her. It takes another...

All their friends blame Delaney for Carson’s death. But Decker knows the truth: Delaney is drawn to those who are dying, and she would have tried to help Carson.

Or so Decker believes until a body lies in front of him in a pool of water on his kitchen floor. Until he sees in Delaney’s eyes that she knew this would happen too – and she said nothing. Until he realizes it isn’t the lake that is looking for revenge – Delaney is part of someone else’s plan.

This powerful and emotionally charged psychological thriller follows Megan Miranda’s stunning debut Fracture.

Review:

   Bye, bye, Fracture series. Have a safe journey back into someone else's disappointed hands. No, seriously.

    Fracture really pleased me, and I couldn't wait for the sequel, and was the reason why I decided to pick up Megan Miranda's other book, Hysteria, which I wasn't all too pleased with either. After this shocking disappointment, I feel that I cannot read anything else from this author, because I keep hoping for something amazing but it never happens, at least it never happens now.

    This book has very bad reviews, but I decided to ignore them because the first book really ended up as one of my favourites from 2013, and I couldn't let the negative thoughts surround me. But of course, I usually think very alike like most reviewers, and I really disliked this book. Not going to go with the word, "hate." -.-

      This takes place right after from where Fracture ended off. But, this is in Decker's POV, which is for once, something new. I hate, and have always hated Delaney, so we finally get a fresh new perspective, from a male. I mean, what's better than that? Let me tell you, a lot of things.

       Yes, yes, we all know that Delaney is basically attracted to death, yes? Everyone blames her for Carson's death, but Decker's the only one who knows the truth because Delaney has not expressed her secret about her special power. And then another dead body shows up in Decker's kitchen and he gets all freaked out and scarred for life and can never look at Delaney the same anymore, because well, you know, she's basically a killer; in a way, right? 

        This book is all about Decker's feelings, and what he thinks about Delaney. It's the final book in this duology, and we're supposed to get answers, right? I felt like this book was just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. There was almost no sort of sense or point of creating this book! Add a chapter into Fracture, create a spectacular ending, and there you go, you have a great standalone. But this one was just an addition of nonsense, that's all.

         Like I said, the plot was boring and nothing was happening. I knew what to expect and what would happen, and of course, that's boring. I just couldn't wait to see the ending, but I still was looking forward for something that never even happened. :/

         

         Don't even get me started on Delaney. I HATED THIS CHICK. She's one of those clueless protagonists who don't know what to do with their lives or what the heck is even going on, not to be rude or anything. She was so stubborn and sensitive, and UGH, she was too stupid to even deserve Decker anyway.

          Although I didn't enjoy this book, the best thing was Decker. I LOVE THIS MAN. GOD SAVE THE KING, EVERYONE. This guy breaks my heart whenever he talks about how much he loves Delaney. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR, OKAY? OKAY. I just realized that I say "Okay? Okay." a lot in my reviews, it's probably because TFIOS is coming out very soon. *squeals*

        But yeah, Decker is one perfect hottie. <3 Too many hot fictional guys out there these days. :)

        The other good/positive thing about this book was the ending. I really liked it. It was chill and cute and unexpected in a way. I'm glad that I got to see this whole series come to a close and see the author's final ideas.

         In conclusion, this was a horrible book. But Decker and the ending were great, haha.

Mini-Review:

-I really disliked this book. Period.

-The plot was boring, and I hated Delaney.

-Decker and the ending were complete awesomeness.

If You Find Me, by Emily Murdoch

If You Find Me, by Emily Murdoch

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery

Rating: 3/5 stars

Book #: Standalone

Publication: March 26, 2013, by St. Martin's Griffin

Format: Paperback






Goodreads Summary: There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

Review:

   But I didn't see this book as spectacular. I didn't see the swagger and amazingness at all, am I missing something? Maybe I'm just not fit for these sort of books, it really reminds me of Winter's Bone- especially with the dialogue and plot. Is it just me? x)

    Carey and her little six year old sister, Jenessa, have been in a forest/national park for ten years with their mom, who is somewhat mentally disabled, until Casey and Jenessa are left alone. They are taken into her father's home and is introduced into a whole new world full of boys, clothes and fun. But there's still the mystery behind why she had to spend all of those ten years in the woods... and much more.

     I had problems with this book. Why don't we get to them first?

     It was boring all throughout. I can never say that this was well written, because it wasn't. A well written book is supposed to captivate you, give you the feels, and cause you to want more. During some moments of this book, I couldn't wait for it to be over- *sighs* if that doesn't sound mean or anything. I just didn't feel the magic.

       Next- Casey gave me some anger at times. We all know that she isn't the most confident and happiest character around; finding out the truth behind her past is crazy and a hassle, but at least she could've been more... I don't know, likeable? She's the type of protagonist who some people have problems with and others don't. So you might see the goodness in her, and maybe you won't.

        Also, the idea is a little cliché and not really unique, but that didn't really bother me, so I won't make it sound like a big deal. 

        The plot was slow. What can I say? Nothing was happening, and it was predictable. Where was the speciality? Someone please brighten me up because I didn't see this as a fascinating tragic story- not even close, but it wasn't horrible. It was just okay and bearable and wanting to read.

        Casey was the "spotlight" of this book. Everything revolved around her and she tried to make sure that it'd stay that way. Okay, yes, this was her story and she was here to tell it, but I wish that we could've gotten a two POV perspective thing going on here to brighten things up, but we got none. Nada. 

        The side characters were amazing. I loved Jenessa and Melissa and Delancey, and they really made the book better. What else can I say?

         Other than the bad things, there were a lot of fun things about this book. When you think about it, there were many genres all mixed together. Romance, mystery, survival, abuse, almost anything. And that's really hard to find in a book. Emily Murdoch definitely made it a better read with that.

         This was a hard book to read. Casey's abuse and hardships saddens the reader, but it makes them happier to see her fight it and to see something interesting (at least part of it) in a book. It was heartbreaking, but not the best thing I've read lately. But, I'm glad to have seen what the "buzz" is really about.

Mini-Review:

-A "meh" kind of book, the plot bored me and it was too slow.

-It's a real depressing read, not everyone will like it.

-Casey was ew-ish, but the side characters were amazing.

-Recommended, but not for everyone.

   

First Library Book Haul!

   

    I normally never borrow books from the library. It was never really my kind of thing- isn't it the best when you have a copy of your own book and get to read it as slow as you'd like? But, today I went to my local library for the first time in years to submit a short story for a contest, and when I happened to pass the Young Adult Fiction section, I just had to stop and pick up every beautiful book I saw. So these are the ones I picked up! 

   So, what are your perks of borrowing books from the library? What are the negatives? 

   

Infinite, by Jodi Meadows

Infinite (Newsoul #3), by Jodi Meadows

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Paranormal, Dragons, Fantasy, Sci-fi

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book #: 3

Publication: January 28, 2014, by Katherine Tegen Books

Format: ebook

Goodreads Summary:  DESTRUCTION

The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHT

Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICE

The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions.

Review:

 What a fabulous ending to the Newsoul trilogy! I mean, this trilogy has been amazing the whole ride through- its idea is so fresh and new and beautiful, and I've been waiting for an epic conclusion like this for a long time, and I think I just got it. Jodi Meadows is one fantastic author. Keep that in mind.

    So here's the deal- this trilogy was the type of trilogy that just gives you the feels. Whatever the characters are going through in the book, you will feel like you're going through the same thing- and it can be from a mega passionate kiss (I'm emphasizing that) or crying, it's just everything that Ana and Sam were going through. So you know, I'd recommend that you should be ready.

     So this is the conclusion- so we're all awaiting a fantastic ending and we're all waiting to see the prejudice between the oldsouls and the newsouls break up. Of course, the book ends one way or another, right? So basically Ana wants to return to Heart with Sam so they can defeat Janan once and for all and she also wants to see their relationship build up and find Sam's love for her. 

     It sounds really short and sweet, but it's totally more than that. At 5%, it was already action-packed and full of those heart-melting kisses, if you know what I mean. *wink wink* Jodi Meadows totally knows the succeeding power to captivate readers right from the start, and leaves them hanging to discover what will occur in the end. 

     I have to say that this wasn't the best book out of the trilogy. I also have to say that it was boring at times, what could I do? If I really loved it and was going crazy about it, I think I would've finished it much faster than I did, but during some moments, I didn't see the "WOW" at all. I think it really depends on people's attention spans, that's all.

     I had mixed feelings with the plot. It went up and down, side to side, and I still don't really know what to say about it. Some points were totally action-packed craziness, and others weren't needed. (See above) But it still was, bearable to read.

     Ana has really grown up in these three books, or one year, in the setting's time span. She's a total fighter now, and totally kick-ass. I was really afraid to see who she'd become by the end, but I'm really glad to see that she's matured, despite my problems with her in the previous novel. So, yay for Ana!

     Okay, and then we have Sam, who I absolutely adore. I think I insert gifs for every hot fictional real guy out there. Oh well, here's another one to describe my new boy.

    *heart eyes* Well, that explains my feelings for Sam. <3

      The romance was just absolutely beautiful. No other words.

      “I just want you. I want you forever, and I'm afraid-" His hands closed over mine. "I want a life with you. I'd give anything to go back and start this one over, to be reborn into this lifetime. I wouldn't waste it. I'd find you sooner. I'd take you somewhere safe. I'd show you music and love and life every day so you were never alone, never afraid. If I could start over knowing what I know now-”

       LOOK AT THIS. JUST PLEASE, LOOK AT THIS QUOTE. IT SERIOUSLY BRINGS TEARS INTO MY SAPPY EYES. OMG. *dies inside*

       I loved the ending. OMG. It was so unexpected, and I loved it. Is it okay if I sat there smiling like a weirdo after finishing the book? I don't know, to tell you the truth, but that's what I did for ten minutes. *grins*

       Well, that's it, sadly. The Newsoul trilogy is over! But I'm glad that it was short and sweet, and still amazing. It finally wasn't a sad ending that killed me and made me tear up- it was an ending that meant a lot to me and warmed my heart. Just plain awesomeness, despite mixed feelings.

Mini-Review:

-Not the best book in the trilogy, but it was so good and the characters made me feel what they feel.

-The plot was boring at times, not really liked.

-Ana has grown up so much and she's a great character.

-Sam is my baby, I love him too much.

-The romance was beautiful, of course and I adored the ending!

-Awesome book overall, despite the mixed feelings at times.

Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke

Dissonance (Dissonance #1), by Erica O'Rourke

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Science-fiction

Rating: 5/5 THOUSAND STARS

Book #: 1

Publication: July 22, 2014, by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Format: ARC


Goodreads Summary: Delancey Sullivan has always known there’s more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del’s job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony.

Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del’s not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is connecting them and it’s not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane.

But Del’s decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse.

Review:

    *Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with a review copy of this book, in exchange for a honest review.*

    This is now, officially, my favourite book of 2014. I am left beyond words and it was so astonishing and absolutely recommended.

    

     What can I say? Erica O'Rourke has left me speechless and absolutely wanting more. But since this was an ARC, I have to wait even longer for the sequel, which will will be released in who knows when. But, I'm not here to complain, I'm here to awe and fangirl and bawl and freak out over this absolute masterpiece out of a book.

      This is about kick-ass rebel Delancey Sullivan, who is a Walker, which is a person who can walk in between parallel universes, well sort of. There are billions and trillions of worlds, worlds that were made when a choice in the key world (the world that Delancey and her family live in, the regular world) was formed. The other worlds are opposites of what could've happened, because you know, we all wonder what could've happened or what would've happened if we made a specific choice. When Del accidentally cleaves in another world (thanks to her bitchy sister) she is kicked out from Walking by the Council, the head and "government" of all Walkers. But of course, Del doesn't follow the rules and still continues to travel in between the worlds, and she keeps encountering with the boy that she has always loved, Simon Lane. She encounters with his shadows, his Echoes, the copies of him in the other worlds, and ends up falling in love with each and every one of them. And then she falls in love with the real Simon from the key world, and she discovers some secrets about Walkers that she's never known about. Romance, action, thrill, this book has everything you're looking for in a YA novel.

        From the start, I was absolutely addicted to this novel. Absolutely addicted. By 20 pages, I already had it at a 5/5 rating, and I was so excited and was loving it. Everything about it was unique, fun and special. Some people have stated that they think this book was too long- NO. I would've loved it if the book turned out to be 1000 pages, I'd seriously read anything and everything from this brilliant author and series. For being almost 500 pages, so much happened, and so quickly. The book was so fast paced and it was an absolute roller coaster ride. Things happened, and I kept getting surprised. Erica O'Rourke kept surprising me all the time, and I never knew what to expect. Plot twists? Absolutely.

         I love this concept. It's a mix of science-fiction and dystopia, if you ask me. The world is falling apart, and secrets are unraveling about the universe. There are people who know things, people who are absolutely clueless, and people who will know things. There is no equality, and this is what makes it even more addicting because you want the society to be equal and fair. This isn't time-traveling, and this isn't a total parallel universe thing. It's different, and I don't know how the author created such a magnificent brilliant idea that I know, will captivate millions of readers when the book releases in July. 

         There were some moments when I got a little bored with this, but the middle-end just made up for it. But I don't care about the moments that bored me, this book was almost perfection, and that never happens.

          

           The writing was brilliant, did I mention that clearly? Everything was written perfectly for the novel and there weren't like any mistakes, coming from an ARC. I'm absolutely pleased with that aspect.

            The characters certainly deserve a HUMONGOUS round of applause. *claps for thirty hours* They were just amazing. I loved Delancey, and her voice. Even though she was moody and a total troublemaker, I loved her, and her attitude certainly fit for this type of role in this situation. We need someone brave and different, not a whiny brat who doesn't know what to do with her life. Delancey was just perfection, and she was the best female protagonist, like ever, and that's amazing coming from this stern judge over here. *nods*

             And then we have Simon...

             So bad. I'm begging you here, baby.

             I love it how Delancey was the one who had to care for him and take risks for him, and Simon was the little baby who needed to be taken care of. That's just so beautiful. *tears up* But seriously, he's so fucking hot. No other words. I'm taken, everyone! But, now I have to go and find this beautiful masterpiece in the Echoes. :( I hope that Del will find my babe.

             The relationship Del has with her grandfather is beautiful and unique. I have never, ever seen such a nice relationship like this. It's so cute and UGH! gets me lost for words. :)

             Overall, this book was amazing, amazing, amazing. The ending left me speechless and wanting more, right now. I need the sequel right now, no words. Cliffhanger endings like this just kill me so bad. :( This was just so good and will blow your mind and cause you to think. A definite favourite, and watch me re-read this soon. x)

Mini-Review:

-AMAZING. I just loved it and need the sequel.

-I was addicted from the beginning and was barely bored.

-The idea was fresh and new and I adored the characters.

-Delancey was kick-ass and awesome.

-Overall, it's my favourite of 2014, AMAZING.

Of Metal and Wishes, by Sarah Fine

Of Metal and Wishes (Of Metal and Wishes #1), by Sarah Fine

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Ghosts, Gothic

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Book #: 1

Publication: August 5, 2014, by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Format: ARC




Goodreads Summary:

  There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her … for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her … and she might go down with it.

Review:

*Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with an ARC of this book, in exchange for a honest review.*

   

   What can I say? This book was amazing. Colour me surprised! 

    This idea and summary just captivated me from the start, but I actually didn't expect this to be so good. It's now definitely one of my favourites of 2014, and I'm so glad to have an ARC and to have read it before anyone else. (Not to be cruel or anything.)

     One thing before we get into the review. Is there going to be a sequel for this? I know that this isn't out yet (or isn't even close to releasing), and there isn't any title or any word about a sequel, but then you go on this book's page and you see 'Of Metal and Wishes' #1. There has to be a sequel coming from the amazing ending that we were so lucky to have here. To sum it up, there has to be a sequel, it's just too good and I will honestly fangirl-die if I don't get to see what happens. 

      Wen lives a lonely life with her father in Gochan One, where she helps him in his medical clinic. There's also words about some Ghost who grants wishes, but Wen doesn't believe it until she actually makes one and it comes true. When she becomes friends with Melik, a Noor, her life is taken to a whole other level. Adding to that, there's the flu going around, and Wen needs to save the people she loves.

       This book was such a pleasure to read. I was utterly enjoyed by it!

          Mmm, yes birdy.

           Can we just get to the only negative part of this? The only flaw was the world development. I wish that we could've found out more about the unjust dystopian world that Wen lives in. If we found out more about the past, then everything would flow together and would be a teensy more perfect than it already is. But just don't even read this paragraph, because it's not really needed if you don't care about worlds.

           For a 316 paged book, I read this very quickly- and remember that you need time to read this because you won't be able to put this down or even grab a sip of water in between. It's just that good. Back to the pleasure thing.

           Don't you just love the idea of this? I actually didn't know that this was a retelling of The Phantom of the Opera until I read some reviews afterwards, is that bad? But now, it's all coming back to me and makes sense, crystal clearly. Adding to that retelling thing, we have an Asian protagonist (which rarely occurs), a prejudicial world and so much more. It was so unique and killed me to read because it was just too good and unforgettable. I think I'm going to be laying down in bed for hours thinking about the ending and everything about this book. Who knows, maybe I'll re-read it again tomorrow.

              I know, I fascinate people all the time. :')

              The characters just make me speechless. I. Just. Loved. Them. All! I keep wanting to say "colour me surprised" every two words because I just surprisingly loved them despite them complaints about Wen's attitude and such. Nope. Forget the bad thoughts. Wen was just kick-ass awesomeness. She was fun and witty even though she never tried to be. I loved her monotone self, and I totally get it because her world is just so unjust. How is she supposed to react when everything's going wrong and she has a turbulent relationship with her dad? She's pretty strong, let me tell you that.

               Malik... Oh Malik. *sings sugar by the Archies song in head*  

               You are my candy boy. *grins in a weird way* No seriously, you're sweet as candy and I absolutely love you. Reading "Wen always has medicine" just made me go like:

                   Puhleeze. You always have medicine, my darling. <3 Okay, but honestly, their romantic relationship was just enchanting. It's so beautiful, and I am still left beyond words! Oh, and those passionate kisses just made me go mad. 

                    The ending was just amazing, just like I mentioned above. It was beautiful, and deep, and made me just long for more. What else can I say about this amazing book? Three words. Deep, enchanting, brilliant. SEQUEL, PLEASE!

Mini-Review:

-The world is unclear to me, but everything else is amazing.

-I love the characters, oh em gee. 

-The romance is just enchanting and I absolutely adored Melik. 

-SEQUEL, PLEASE!

17 & Gone, by Nova Ren Suma

17 & Gone, by Nova Ren Suma

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery/Murder/Thriller, Ghosts

Rating: 1.5/5 stars

Book #: Standalone

Publication: March 6 2014, by Speak

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384






First Line: "Girls go missing every day."


Goodreads Summary:  Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these visions, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? Through Lauren’s search for clues, things begin to unravel, and when a brush with death lands Lauren in the hospital, a shocking truth changes everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautifully visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.

Review:

   

    But certainly not this one.

    I'm usually not into mysteries, but the synopsis of this one just caught my attention. A girl seeing missing girls' ghosts? Her having some sort of psychological problem? Okay, I'm in. But, this was just... unexplainably dumb.

     Okay, so this is about Lauren, who "sees" ghosts of missing girls. They are all 17, and some have been abducted, some have ran away, and one is still alive. There. And Lauren questions herself, "Why are they talking to me?" and "What's so special about me?" and "I'm not crazy, right?" the whole entire time. Oh, and she ends up in the hospital, where she'll find out the truth about everything.

       I didn't try to over-exaggerate on my little recap there, it's the truth of how everything was laid out to be. 

       First of all, what was the point in this book? Second, why switch from girl to girl and have short mini-stories about each girl? And third, why so slow-paced?

        I seriously didn't see any moral or point in this book. It was just complete nonsense and I think we all have some common sense in our brains to know what's going on with Lauren. By the end, it was no surprise to me. I was just sitting there with my mouth open, because I was hoping for a huge complete plot twist, but all we got was "meh." Okay, I see that this is about somebody with a psychological problem, that's absolutely fine, but at least have some romance or something fun in between. I overall think that this was too much mystery for me to handle, and maybe that's why I disliked this so much.

        I didn't like how this book was formatted into mini-stories. Every girl that Lauren mentioned in the prologue got their own mini-story about their lives before they went missing, how they went missing, and when Lauren sees their ghost. That's all how the book was set up until the last few "chapters," or whatever you'll call them when Lauren ends up in the hospital and finds out the truth about everything and when the sucky ending forms. That's the book, yay, congratulations. It should've been all of them put together somehow, or just one girl. Why make so many characters that are all the same, basically? Although, I did have my favourite girls, which I'll get to in a second.

        This plot was utterly horrible. It was just so slow, and like I said, it didn't get to anywhere. I was just sitting there, forcing myself to read it to find out what would happen, but nothing, NOTHING AT ALL HAPPENED. I seriously regret finishing this book.

         Did you hate Lauren? Did you think she was (a) Dumb (b) Crazy and (c) Useless? If you circled all three options, then you are correct.

               "I don't dream. I don't wake up coughing, and I can't smell smoke."

                NO, DUH! It's like she was Captain Obvious. I couldn't stand this girl. In the beginning, when her situation wasn't too bad, I was okay with her. But after she started seeing too many things, I realized that she was getting dumber and dumber every page. For a book with a concept like this, you need a protagonist that's strong and is somewhat able to handle this situation carefully. But no, we got this one, who didn't know what was real or not, when it was sort of real. She's the whiny type we all hate.

                Oh, and look at this quote, ahah:

               "Oh. Oh no. The mirror. It had been shattered. It was beginning to look like I'd broken the mirror and sliced myself with it. Did I?"

                LOL, Lauren, please stop or else you'll kill me with laughter.

                The positive? The only positive? The missing girls. Although I didn't like how the story was formatted with their short stories, I actually really liked them, and Madison and Abby probably would have to be my favourite characters with their personalities and story and such. That's why I gave this a 1.5. Because of them, because their stories truly touched my heart.

                 In conclusion, this book really disappointed me. It's honestly the worst book I've read in a while. Recommended? Absolutely not.

Mini-Review:

-I hated Lauren. Ew, she was so dumb and useless.

-The plot was very slow and there was no point in this book at all.

-The only positive was the missing girls. I liked a few of them and their stories.

-Not recommended.

              

        

Hysteria, by Megan Miranda

Title: Hysteria,

Author: Megan Miranda

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery-Thriller-Murder, Romance, Ghosts

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book #: Standalone

Publication: January 7, 2014, by Walker Childrens

Format: Paperback





Goodreads Summary: Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. 

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

Review:

    Megan Miranda has definitely pleased me with her debut novel, Fracture, and I couldn't wait to read more from her. Hysteria has been on my to-read list for a long time and I'm so glad that I've gotten to read it quickly. But, guess what? I wasn't too pleased.

     This is all about Mallory, who's parents have just enrolled her into Monroe, a prep boarding school where she can have a fresh start after her rough past. She killed her boyfriend Brian (but it was for self-defense). When one of her new classmates turn up dead, she still doesn't remember what had happened both nights. So, her secrets began to unravel and her memory is all jumbled up and she's hearing voices and weird things.

      This is a common idea found in books. Many young adult books have this sort of touch on them- a girl enrolling into a boarding school and then finds something mysterious at the school and falls in love with someone but isn't able to tell that someone about her feelings and mysterious sightings. That's exactly what this book basically went through, in stages. In the beginning, I expected this to be different than other books and I hoped that it would end up surprising. But, I didn't really see this differently than other boarding-school based books. It was just the same, and I didn't want that.

        The beginning began very fast-paced and addicting. How was I supposed to put this gorgeous book down when I wanted to know what would happen and what really happened that night? As soon as I realized that this book is not different from others and was predictable, I got a little bored. I wasn't feeling the captivation and strength of the writing. I got a little confused and didn't feel the awe that I was supposed to be feeling, but I wasn't bored out of my mind. It was still bearable to read and likeable.

         But I could say that I was creeped out. Megan Miranda can really send chills down your spine, and I'm not lying. Although I kind of knew what would happen, her words just get stuck with you and terrorize you. 

          Mallory was a strong character. She was manly (have to say it xD) and she fights for what she believes in and she won't let anyone change what she thinks. She's not those easy, whiny characters that most books have. She was different and kick-ass, don't you like that?

           I liked all of the other characters equally as well. And then we have Reid.

            Reid was just beyond of words amazing. I loved him. EEEEEEEE. *breathes in and out* He was just so amazing and I love Mallory and him together. He's the only person who could calm Mallory down and keep her normal, and when you're psychologically distressed, I think that's really hard to do. So Reid, you have just unlocked an achievement: keeps a mental person normal. Congrats!

             In conclusion, this has its ups and downs, but it was enjoyable. Some people might like it, others won't. It really depends on how you judge your books and what you're looking for in a mystery/thriller. 

Mini Review:

-I didn't like the idea. It was too mainstream and predictable.

-The characters were plain awesomeness. Reid is my bias. 

-Some will like this, others won't. Give it a try if you like a good mystery.

Grim, by several young adult authors

Title: Grim 

Author: Several Young Adult Authors

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural-Paranormal, Romance, Demons, Magic

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book #: Standalone

Publication: Feburary 25, 2014, by Harlequin Teen

Pages: 474

Format: Hardcover

Goodreads Summary: 

Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today: 

Ellen Hopkins 

Amanda Hocking 

Julie Kagawa 

Claudia Gray 

Rachel Hawkins 

Kimberly Derting 

Myra McEntire 

Malinda Lo 

Sarah Rees-Brennan 

Jackson Pearce 

Christine Johnson 

Jeri Smith Ready 

Shaun David Hutchinson 

Saundra Mitchell 

Sonia Gensler 

Tessa Gratton 

Jon Skrovon

Review:

   I usually really dislike anthologies, but something about Grim just caught my attention. Maybe it was the authors involved with writing the short stories, because some of them have written favourite novels of mine, such as Rachel Hawkins, Amanda Hocking, and Malinda Lo. Or maybe it was the kind of anthology written, that captivated me. But overall, I was very pleased with the outcome.

   

      From the moment I started this, I was in love. The way the stories flowed and were written were beautifully and quick, and I wished that the story would continue on forever as a regular book, not a story. This happened until The Raven Princess. After that, I was like "Meh" then "Yay!" then "Meh" again. I didn't know what to expect with each story. I felt like I was scarred for life.

      

      What was I supposed to do? Go on and act like nothing happened? Nope. I wasn't going to go on and pretend that all of the stories were amazing. Nope, no way. I have to admit that I skipped two stories- The Raven Princess and The Brothers Piggett. Those two were so boring and dull I just couldn't stand them- most likely because they had a hint and a touch of historical stuff in there. I got info-dumped in forty pages. =_=

       My favourite stories? The Key, Figment, The Twelfth Girl, Beast/Beast and Untethered. The others were okay, but those really made a difference to me. If you just want to read the goods one, then read those five, they were absolutely astonishing out of the total of eleven mini-stories all combined in one.

       I definitely think that if you love paranormal-supernatural stories and books, then this will definitely please you and give you a break from longer stories. These are short stories that are still loved by everyone.

       Opening Line: 

       "High school is hard enough without having a psychic as a mom."

      

       

Book Haul: ARCs

    Okay guys. I might just fangirl a little too overboard here. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada, I have received my first two ARCs!

    

       When I received the email asking me which books from the Spring/Summer list that I'd like, I thought that I would pass out. Getting ARCs have been my dream for forever, (no joke) and this seriously made me so happy, probably one of the best days in my life. 

        So the first one I wanted the most was Of Metal and Wishes, by Sarah Fine. This will be released in August of this year, and is a dystopia-ghost story book. Here's the Goodreads page for it. :)

         The second is Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke. This will be released in July and is a futuristic-science fiction read. Here's its Goodreads page.

         Okay, these two are absolutely gorgeous, (just look at the covers OMG) and I am so delighted to have them in my library and my first collection of ARCs. 

Another Little Piece, by Kate Karyus Quinn

Another Little Piece, by Kate Karyus Quinn

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal-Supernatural, Romance, Mystery-Murder-Thriller

Rating: 2/5 stars









Goodreads Summary: The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series in Kate Karyus Quinn's haunting debut.

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.

Review:

  Guess what?

  E-X-A-C-T-L-Y. Bam, just like that. If you're the type of reader who gets very confused easily, especially with what happened in some sort of incident, I'd recommend running away from this book as fast as you can. You do not want to read something like this.

   Boring and confusing. Those are two words that just perfectly state what this book came to be. That's all. There were parts where I felt that I should've put this down, but I needed to find out the truth- how can you leave this novel without knowing what in the world actually happened to Annaliese?

    Annaliese Rose Gordon. That's the name of a girl who vanished after coming into her own high school's party in the woods, bleeding to death. A video had been taken of her in that situation, and was uploaded onto YouTube, became viral right before it was shut down. One year later, Annaliese is found wandering around on an unknown road, not having a clue who she is. Memories begin to flood back to her, slowly and steadily. Memories of a razor, of other missing girls, about her "past life." And everything has just begun- she needs to unlock everything in order to find the truth.

      I usually love books that are written in many different formats put altogether- poetry, general writing, they just blend in perfectly together. But, I really feel that this book shouldn't have been written in a poetry and regular writing format. Just because Annaliese once supposedly had a love towards poetry doesn't mean that the book should be written in it and show some of her old poems. I really don't care about those poems and they didn't fit in and make sense with the story. It's dumb, actually. 

       The plot began very fast. The story got to its main point by the second chapter, and we basically got to know Annaliese by then. I was loving the book until about page 300. That's why I actually gave this a two stars. After that, I was so disappointed and didn't know what in the world was going on. 

        It was just so freakin' confusing. Anna's third person view of herself was so stupid and got to me and I didn't understand what was going on. I'm the type of person to get lost very easily in books and their concepts and I totally did with this one. Some people will understand everything and will find that this book is amazing. But I didn't see that at all. 

        After the other missing girls and the whole paranormal aspect was introduced, I was lost. It didn't make sense to me and I didn't know who was who. With that coming, it just felt like I was skimming the book when I actually tried to read this thoroughly and deeply to understand what was going on. But, nope, nada, zero understanding.

         I really liked the concept. The whole idea seems very fresh and new, but kind of does remind me of Pretty Girl-13, which was much more better than this one, and it's actually newer. But I totally give credits to this for the idea. :) 

         The characters is what gets me to the next difficult/negative part.

       I think we all hated Annaliese somehow because of her bizarreness and weirdness throughout everything. But I think I have a larger theory behind my hate towards her. Don't you hate those protagonists that whine about how they don't know where the heck they are and how everything isn't real? Yep, I judge my protagonists with that question. Annaliese was a perfect example of doing that. Okay, she lost her memory because something tragic and strange happened to her, but come on, don't be stupid, don't you have common sense? Man, people these days. -.-

         The other characters really didn't make some sort of difference to me because they're all the same and depressed and lonely and all have been through heartbreak or some disease. 

         Okay, there was a little feud-kind-of-romance here, but I didn't like it. If there was no romance, then everything'd be a little different, perhaps a 2.5/5 star rating instead. 

          When something doesn't make sense to you, you get bored of being confused, right? That's how I was left for a long period of the book, wanting to know what would happen but then finding out that it was nothing anyway. This was just a disgrace, I have to say.