We Will Be Crashing Shortly by Hollis Gillespie // Dull and Not Too Interesting

We Will Be Crashing Shortly, by Hollis Gillespie
Publication: June 15, 2015, by Merit Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover Finished Copy
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

April Mae Manning from Unaccompanied Minor is back, and back in trouble, but this time, she's run out of chances...
April Mae was raised on airplanes by her flight-attendant parents. But since her dad's death and her mom's remarriage to the nefarious pilot Ash Manning, April's been in nothing but danger: two airplane crashes; two car crashes; and now, as a student pilot, in an old plane crippled over the Caribbean. Can she survive, and save her friends, or is this the watery end to "Crash" Manning's story?

My Thoughts:

Planes? Crashes? Mystery? These rhetorical questions are actually describing my love for the genre that Hollis Gillespie's sequel is based on: Mystery, with some thrill. But I'm suggesting that you keep in mind all of the negatives that this book actually had, because I promise you that they aren't too thrilling and exciting. This book was rather more questionable than exciting and more unbelievable than real. Isn't this supposed to be contemporary, you're asking? Yeah, try believing a fifteen-year-old who promises that she's a goody-two-shoes and never has done anything wrong. I just "met" April Mae Manning in this book, and hated her from the first page.

She's a back-stabber and completely annoying. This book is rather annoying at some points, especially in the beginning slash middle. April will certainly get on your nerves as she strives to prove that she's the smartest, most intelligent fifteen-year-old "spy" who has ever walked the face of the Earth. She "completely saved everyone" from a plane destruction and has always gotten credit for everything. She notes that she hates being famous and being spied on by paparazzi and other news outlets, but readers can obviously see the enjoyment she puts in every step she takes that's described.

I see no reason for the author to make April such a star. There wasn't anything special about her character and I didn't find her relatable and/or wonderful at all, whatsoever. I found myself rolling my eyes constantly and hoping for a better jump in the plot. There were lists included in this story that just made April's character look so paranoid about everything—including planes. This doesn't make sense. She thinks about the impossible, and not in a great, positive matter. It's more like: I'm going to think of this so I know what to do and I won't get lost if it happens. How could you enjoy life if you're thinking about the possible injuries that being on an aircraft could lead to? *gags*

This is all like a karma, "Final Destination" like story that's not too satisfying. The plot's slow, but then there's those points and bursts of information that just seem to pop out of nowhere and we discover something new about the situation for a change. April keeps escaping danger and death, but then she gets this huge feeling in her guts that something bad's going to happen when she's a student pilot. Of course, for "captivation," it does and readers are supposed to wonder if she and her friends will survive. WHY WOULD THEY GO ON THIS TRIP IN THE FIRST PLACE? That's kind of the reason why I decided to keep reading this, to discover why, and the other questions answered. Meh.

Gillespie's not a bad writer. Her story is intriguing and unique, but it lacked a big part that most great novels seem to have that this doesn't: action. The main character's FIFTEEN and acts like she has so much common sense and knows exactly what to do in every situation. There was no source of family influence because she always complained about everyone: her stepfather, which she kind of killed (just saying), her mother and father. And you'll find that she's quite a gossiper: She talks bad about everyone. I'm not sure if I'm quite fit to read about a girl like that. 

I feel that some will enjoy this more than others (like myself), but there's probably something that you'll enjoy. Although this review felt more like a rant in some ways, I enjoyed the side characters and the ending. Gillespie ended up creating different kinds of writing and styles that all mixed together to create enjoyment by the end. 

*A finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

Have you ever read a book about a plane crash/planes? That's such a captivating setting, if you ask me. I wish I enjoyed this more than it all turned out!

Waiting on Wednesday #15: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything, by Morgan Matson
Publication: May 16, 2016, by Simon and Schuster
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Format: Hardcover

Andie had it all planned out. 
When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.
Important internship? Check.
Amazing friends? Check.
Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks)
But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.
Because here’s the thing - if everything's planned out, you can never find the unexpected. 
And where’s the fun in that?

MORGAN MATSON IS MY FAVOURITE CONTEMPORARY AUTHOR ASIDE FROM JOHN GREEN AND I don't know why I'm typing in caps. JOKES I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS! When Morgan announced her new novel and released this cover, I was ready to die. THE DOGS ARE ADORABLE, THE COVER IS HIPSTER AND BEAUTIFUL. Then I headed onto Goodreads, added it, and cried because I realized that it's out in May. I'VE WAITED ENOUGH FOR MORE FROM YOU, YOU BEAUTIFUL AUTHOR SLASH PERSON. I want this, I'd sell my soul and all of my books for this. Jokes, about the book thing. We'll see and make a deal.

What would YOU sell your soul for this week?

Red Rising by Pierce Brown // A DNF That Just Wasn't Written for Me

Red Rising (Red Rising #1), by Pierce Brown
Publication: January 28, 2014, by Del Rey
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Science-Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 382
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

Darrow is a Helldiver, one of a thousand men and women who live in the vast caves beneath the surface of Mars, generations of people who spend their lives toiling to mine the precious elements that will allow the planet to be terraformed. Just knowing that, one day, people will be able to walk the surface of the planet is enough to justify their sacrifice. The Earth is dying, and Darrow and his people are the only hope humanity has left.
Until the day Darrow learns that it is all a lie. That Mars has been habitable - and inhabited - for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down at Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.
Until the day Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside.
But the command school is a battlefield - and Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda.
Ender's Game meets The Hunger Games in this, the first in an extraordinary trilogy from an incredible new voice.

My Thoughts:

DNF @ 100 pages

As a reviewer/blogger, am I even allowed to sit here and spend the rest of this review shrugging, and just type in "rage rage rage" fifty million times? That's not overly exaggerated, I promise. I wish I could rage and rant forever, but there are many beautiful books, far more prettier than this one, waiting for me out there. Red Rising is overly hyped for what it's worth and gives to readers, though I'm certainly thankful that I did get to share this experience and understand what another overly hyped read can do to the general public. 

I sincerely hope that you aren't getting me wrong here: I DNFed this but there are some fabulous things to take a peek on to get you to read this book. The writing is fantastic, utterly gorgeous and unlike anything I've seen in a while. Pierce Brown certainly knows where his characters and ideas are coming from, and it was all practically perfect, in that sense. His descriptions of the setting, of Mars and the heat was awesome. But then again, it was like another replay of Ender's Game, definitely. Except here we're having an issue with the maturity of Darrow, the protagonist. Dude, why are you speaking like you're in your mid-twenties? *rolls eyes*

"On Mars there is not much gravity. So you have to pull the feet to break the neck. They let the loved ones do it." (1)

Brown used a mix of things that's found from the past, in actual Earth history. Beheadings, using ropes to kill people in public after they've done something horrifying, a lot of those things are found in this imaginary world. It's compelling. And then there's the famous method that the setting's world uses to organize people by their standings and abilities. Like y'know, Gold and Red and all of those. It's super captivating... but then there's the fact that it was just too damn boring eventually. 

When I begin reading a book, I usually feel that magical feeling, some kind of emotion by page 30, at least. This book? Nada. It was like I was just reading some monotone, boring magazine about something that is totally out of my interest, which is definitely strange. Dystopia is my favourite genre, but Brown kind of took it too far for Young Adult. It wasn't that his writing was too difficult or confusing, it was just the fact that the story was complex and too much for someone's reading span. Adding to that, Darrow's perspective was too... bold. You're sixteen-eighteen, not twenty seven, y'know? I don't even remember his age because nothing about him was intriguing. He cannot be classified as the next Ender or Katniss. NO WAY. But then, I can't just forget and ignore the fact that this has a freaking 4.20 rating on Goodreads and endless amounts of 5 stars. Meh.

When reading this, it was as if I had been searching for something that I knew was impossible. I'm not trying to hate on it because maybe, if I had a different sense of patience and likings of particular standards in dystopian fiction, maybe I would've enjoyed it. Why bother reading something that doesn't seem interesting? I see no point. I could recommend this to you if you're a huge fan of those large, chunky novels filled with info-dumping and no plot development for a large period of time. Other than that, I guess you're stuck with me in the no-Red-Rising-friends-club. Please join. 

Do you like when dystopian fiction is mixed with fantasy? What other protagonists can compare to Ender and Katniss in your opinion? 

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger // A Novel That Speaks to All Girls

Shut Out, by Kody Keplinger
Publication: September 5, 2011, by Poppy
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 273
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.
Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming. 

My Thoughts:

Shut Out really is that perfect novel that shows up once in a lifetime to a very lucky reader. And looking back, I really do believe that I am that fortunate lucky reader. As I've enjoyed every work by Kody Keplinger, this wasn't a surprise to that I adored it so much, but it kind of inspired me in a way and was so kick-ass. I promise you, you'll never find another book like it and it turned out to mean so much to me!

This is pretty feministic, if you ask me. Lissa, the main character, alongside her best friend, Chloe (I still remember her name!), and the group of other girls who have basically joined their pact/pack are fighting for ending a stupid rivalry between two sports teams, and it's all about gaining rights and not having to be in the middle of it. It turns out that she kind of is in love with two guys, who are on separate teams, and things get messy. But honestly, why would a sports team have to mess things up when relationships are already pretty messy themselves?

"Great. He was a hottie, a good kisser, and a literature buff. God really must have had a sense of humor, because if I had to name my biggest turn-on, it was literature." (108)

Keplinger's writing can just leave you laughing, banging your fists on the floor after two sentences that just were "blurted out" randomly. It's a hilarious, but meaningful story that won't let anyone down. It deserves to win the highest medal of achievement, of life. I'm so in love with its writing and although it was pure contemporary romance, I didn't see anything wrong about its "cheesiness" or whatsoever. It's difficult for a novel to hit me in the way this one absolutely did. How CAN I THANK YOU, BOOK GODS?

Just reminding you, this one also does come with its fair bit of love-triangle. And perhaps some instant love, but it worked because the love interest was a literature buff, as Lissa mentioned above. (Don't you love that name too? Lissa?) Cash was adorable and he turned out to be part of the book's perfection. I didn't find myself seeming to care that he and Lissa clicked automatically, because there were some instances where she mentioned things about the past and the relationship they once had. It's tough being a girl, that's the big message. RIGHTS, PEOPLE. We all need a guy who could treat us right!

The writing just flowed and smashed everything together, without breaking any hearts (too much) or leaving me in tears (in a bad way). It's humourous, as The DUFF was, and has that bit of drama that makes everyone fall in love without making them feel that this was a complete disastrous reality show. THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT. I feel like we're all meant to stare beyond the horizon and feel what Kody's trying to tell us. (That was my deep moment for today.)

"What's normal? What's expected of us? "You know, I don't think normal exists." (154)

If you'd like a small hint of romance in your average tale, I'd recommend this all of the way. We're stuck with an awesome protagonist who's independent and unlike any snobby, wishing for romance teenager we're periodically stuck with. THIS BOOK BEATS THEM ALL, LET ME TELL YOU. In a few hours, you'll find yourself a new favourite.

Do you enjoy contemporaries with tons of drama? What about them with love triangles that seem right?

Stacking the Shelves #51: September 27

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

This Week's Headlines:

IT'S THE WEEKEND! And it's a long weekend for me... which makes everything ten times more fabulous. Less homework, less worries and stress. I have nothing to worry about for the next two days, haha. Yesterday was a stellar day where I headed to the amusement park next to my house with my close friends! I didn't go on any new rides, but it was great to catch up with some news! 

TODAY IS WORD ON THE STREET IN TORONTO! In case you haven't heard of it (you probably haven't), it's a bookish festival where books are sold and authors visit! I'll be holding a recap as well as one of the other book event I attended a few weeks ago, but I'm really excited about it!

My Book Haul:

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: IT WAS A SHOCKER WHEN I RECEIVED THIS IN THE MAIL! I had requested it and I'm so excited! I love Ruta's writing and this won't disappoint, that's for sure!

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury: WOOO! Aladdin retellings are the cutest and this looks like the newest, best thing ever. I love Jessica's writing!

Posts You May Have Missed:

• The Bees and Where'd You Go, Bernadette Reviews
• Waiting on Wednesday #13: Vicarious by Paula Stokes
• Playing With Matches by Suri Rosen // Cliché and Only Filled With Entertainment

How are you? What are your new additions this week?

The Bees by Laline Paull and Where'd You Go, Bernadette // Adult Duo Reviews

The Bees, by Laline Paull
Publication: May 6, 2014, by Ecco
Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian
Pages: 338
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Born into the lowest class of her society, Flora 717 is a sanitation bee, only fit to clean her orchard hive. Living to accept, obey and serve, she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her beloved holy mother, the Queen. Yet Flora has talents that are not typical of her kin. And while mutant bees are usually instantly destroyed, Flora is reassigned to feed the newborns, before becoming a forager, collecting pollen on the wing. Then she finds her way into the Queen's inner sanctum, where she discovers secrets both sublime and ominous. Enemies roam everywhere, from the fearsome fertility police to the high priestesses who jealously guard the Hive Mind. But Flora cannot help but break the most sacred law of all, and her instinct to serve is overshadowed by a desire, as overwhelming as it is forbidden...
Laline Paull's chilling yet ultimately triumphant novel creates a luminous world both alien and uncannily familiar. Thrilling and imaginative, The Bees is the story of a heroine who changes her destiny and her world.

My Thoughts:

The Bees is a novel that seemed attractive only because it had the coolest concept of all time. But now that I've read it, seen its negative side, I feel that I'm scarred for life and won't be able to look at bees the same way anymore. Haven't you ever wondered what their hives look like and what they actually do? Here's your "possible" answer. Laline Paull basically makes your wildest dreams come true. 

I wish that I had liked this ten of times more. The book overall hasn't been getting the best reviews that are possible, but I guess you can say that I was overly stubborn and knew that I had to have it, no matter what kind of negative review steps in my path. And then after I purchased it, it sat in my bookshelf for months, practically a year. I feel bad for letting it sit like that, having my anticipation grow more and more as time flew by, but, it ended up more negative than positive in the end.

I bet that I barely have to reapply the whole concept/plot into your head by now. It's a hyped read, if I do say so myself. This book's protagonist is a bee named Flora, who's basically part of a tribe of bees. Each "tribe" has their own kind of job, whether it is to maintain the hive or do things for the royals, especially the Queen Bee. These tribes are also known as kin. When things get rough, Flora begins to care for the newborn bees, collecting pollen and delivering it to them. She discovers that she has a hidden talent that only the royals are able to nurture. And things get rough, as there can only be one Queen Bee at a time.

This is what humanity will turn into eventually, if you think hard about it. Maybe that was Laline Paull's message all along: humans are basically worth the same as any other creature, except for the fact that we have more intelligence and capability to do big things. It's also classified as dystopian adult fiction, which kind of leads us to think about the fact that this will be our horrifying, futuristic planet where we're all assigned to jobs and have no chance of being happy, ever. Maybe we'll have NUMBERS attached to us, without any identity. It's totally possible, and the whole brilliant idea has gotten me to think about everything, about life.

Aside from the fact that this had more than a decent concept, I became completely bored out of my mind. I guess that you can say that I only entertained myself with my wild ideas, of the world turning into something out of the author's mind and predictions. I had no idea that I would get bored, but the pacing was so horrible that I almost couldn't have stood it. As most books are, there are those decent moments when you realize, "Ah, this isn't quite what I expected it to be," but I usually found myself rolling my eyes. There's a bigger picture to this story, and I found that the plot didn't try to showcase it.

Flora is who kept me going. I liked her view on social bee status, and how she's able to accomplish anything, no matter who's putting her down or what her name is. And in the end, I guess I can say that she made readers proud of reading about someone as remarkable as she turned out to be. Minus pacing and everything, I would've liked this book far more in total.

My last point showcases the setting: the hive. IT'S SO HUMANELY IMPOSSIBLE TO COME UP WITH SUCH A GLORIOUS SETTING. It's interesting, captivating, and I won't ever, ever forget about the hive's descriptions. As I read on, it's like my patience depended on the hive and the jobs and the way the bee political system worked. Eventually, it's like the hive was our planet as a total and the bees were us, destroyed humans, walking like a bunch of zombies doing whatever the "bosses" and royalty want. Wow.

The Bees definitely has a look for a three-starred book. I just immediately pictured it to be, once I began reading. It's pretty captivating, especially the world-building as well as Flora's perspective. But then again, it had a decent-to-low plot where I kept wondering about where it'll pick up and satisfy me once more. I predict that it could go either way for a bunch of readers, depending on what's your reading style and which genres you usually prefer. It's something that's diverse, unique and leaving all of the bookish society wondering if they should go for it. Because I recommend that you do, even though this wasn't the proper, best choice for me.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple

Publication: April 2, 2013, by Back Bay Books

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 330

Format: Paperback

Source: Gifted

Rating: ½

Bernadette Fox has vanished.
When her daughter Bee claims a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for perfect grades, Bernadette, a fiercely intelligent shut-in, throws herself into preparations for the trip. But worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Ms. Fox is on the brink of a meltdown. And after a school fundraiser goes disastrously awry at her hands, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces.
Which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together an elaborate web of emails, invoices, and school memos that reveals a secret past Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where'd You Go Bernadette is an ingenious and unabashedly entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are, and the power of a daughter's love for her mother.

My Thoughts:

Do you ever feel that you have issues with a book but it got better, much better? What about your experiences with Adult Fiction when you're mainly a YA reader? Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette is fiction's new Rosie Project, where romance and drama are key to satisfy a reader with ultimate chick-lit. At first, I was sure that this national bestseller wasn't for me at all. And I agree that it isn't for everyone. But it also depends on what you're used to reading and what chances you'll take when you go for a book that has a lot of hype surrounding it.

This book could've been better. At least, I expected it to be better. I had high hopes, hoping that Bernadette Fox's character would impress me and leave a mark on my checklist of the many characters who feel like heroines, like heroes and represent a wide community of people who are so similar to them. It was a decent read, nothing special compared to some of the thrillers and coming-of-age stories that I've been reading lately, but at least I did shed some giggles and smiles all throughout my experience.

"I don't understand, Bee. If you never got my letter, how are you here?' I did it like you,' I said. "I slipped away." (307)

Beforehand, if I never had a clue about what this book actually was written about, I would've laughed and said that this is complete nonsense. When you think about it, it really is strange and weird, but I guess quirky in a good way, too. I can totally picture a film coming out of this, with the theatre filled with all fans and ordinary people who are just in for a good laugh. It's all about Bernadette Fox, her anxiety, her daughter and her weird life, as she disappears away from her whole life, from the people she hates and the people she loves. Her daughter, Bee, is highly intelligent and goes on to read her mother's emails and text messages, which will help her discover the truth behind everything.

If you read this, you're probably feeling like it's a dark novel filled with mystery and thrill. Haha, no. For once, we have something that can surely be classified as a thriller be completely weird and normal at the same time. It's not like Bernadette's family went on and called the cops and got worried. Bernadette had a huge meltdown, and this kind of fractured her and her family gave her space. This is not a mystery, if that's what you're asked. It's completely ordinary, when you really think about it.

This has a complete plot filled with some achy, boring portions that left me wondering if I would eventually DNF it or hate it even more than I already did. The beginning was slow, weak and underwhelming, but thankfully it completely got better and I turned out to be thankful for the way it ended.

So if you hadn't known by now, Bernadette has a daughter named Bee, who is the coolest character/teenager around. At lot of the novel was revolved around her and her school academic decisions, her going to boarding school and everything about their trip to Antarctica. She can be classified as my main highlight of the book. I loved her relationship with her mother and her not being embarrassed to be seen with her strange mother.

This is one interesting novel, but you may find yourself being distracted from time to time when reading. For me, it was something that took a while to read because I got bored with the pacing and events, but for most, it's an award winning novel. Who knows, maybe you'll get inspired by Bernadette's quirkiness and follow her struts! *giggles* This was really entertaining, though.

What do you think of hyped books? Would you read them if there are 5 starred reviews all over the place?

Waiting on Wednesday #13: Vicarious by Paula Stokes

Vicarious, by Paula Stokes
Publication: August 16, 2016, by Tor Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Hardcover

Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, have always been inseparable. Together, the two of them survived growing up in a Korean orphanage and being trafficked into the United States. 
Now they work as digital stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you, for a price.
When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the neural recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

PAULA STOKES IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AUTHORS. I've read all of her books and they all touch me in the heart. Every time, it's like she writes something completely new! She went from contemporary to thrill and I'm just obsessed. Agh I need more!

What are you anticipating the most this week?

Playing With Matches by Suri Rosen // Cliché and Only Filled With Drama for Entertainment

Playing With Matches, by Suri Rosen
Publication: September 9, 2014, by ECW Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 248
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

When 16-year-old Raina Resnick is expelled from her Manhattan private school, she’s sent to live with her strict aunt-but Raina feels like she’s persona non grata no matter where she goes. Her sister, Leah, blames her for her broken engagement, and she’s a social pariah at her new school. In the tight-knit Jewish community, Raina finds she is good at one thing: matchmaking! As the anonymous “MatchMaven,” Raina sets up hopeless singles desperate to find the One.
Can she find the perfect match for her sister and get back on her good side, or will her secret life catch up with her? 
In this debut novel, Suri Rosen creates a comic and heartwarming story of one girl trying to find happiness for others, and redemption for herself.

My Thoughts:

Playing With Matches is one of those books that I knew I wouldn't enjoy from when I read the first page. It's a limited short read that was quick and satisfying for one of those readers who enjoy chick-lit and nonsense reads. And by "nonsense," I literally mean one of those that come with no-plot, no message, just plain drama and complaining from the protagonist, Rain. I'm pretty disappointed, but what could I expect when I'm always the black sheep and that this has a positive Goodreads overall rating?

I didn't look at this book for its writing, for its in-depth details that pertain to the characters' lives. Instead, I guess I just had to evaluate this and give my opinion from a simple view. At the time when I read this, I wasn't in for a trashy read so that may have affected my rating quite a bit. But seriously? I wouldn't even classify this as YA fiction. It completely gave the look as a middle-grade tween book about a dumb girl who tries to save her sister, Leah, from getting lovesick in Toronto.

This has a pretty cliché cover too, after all. What else could I have expected when I see a girl making the Justin Bieber hand-finger-heart? A little teenager can't start making a business out of match-making, that's for sure. People, young or old start sending her emails about themselves and feel that this person they don't even know will help them set them up on dates. *rolls eyes*

If someone told me that there's another novel out there similar to this one by one of my most favourite authors, I still don't think I'd go for it. It's boring, cheesy and uninteresting. I guess that one of the only intriguing parts were the side characters, like Professor K, Leah, Jake, all of that drama that came out of the dates and such. Rain's complaining, "boring" life? Yeah I wasn't too interested in what she had to say. When she had a ton of new friends, a nice lifestyle, all she could do was complain about everything: about a sticky pole in a bus, about her sister not understanding her when Rain's the total annoying kid, there's a ton of things. 

The fact that this was quick kept me going, but then again: Why did I waste my time? Playing With Matches was something that I picked out without even knowing what it was about, but if I did, then I might've not given it a chance anyway. If you're fine with reading something that's more meant for twelve year olds instead of YA, then this might be okay. But then again, it's trashy and weird. Meh.

Do you ever pick up books without knowing what they're about and not really caring about the cover either? I guess I was kind of desperate when I picked this one up, hah.