The Breakdown by B.A. Paris // Ms. Paris Does It Again!

The Breakdown, by B.A. Paris
Publication: July 18, 2017, by St. Martin's Press
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside―the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.
But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.
The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.
Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…

My Thoughts:

I FEEL SO BAD. Because this review would've been a million times better if I had written it around ten months ago. But I DIDN'T. So you're stuck reading a review written by a girl with some faded memory. I'll try my best however, as The Breakdown was amazing and deserves every bit of a positive, well-written review. And I can tell you that I do remember quite a bit, because DUH, it's written by B.A. Paris! 

Although I'm giving this a 5-star rating, it was not as good as Behind Closed Doors. This may not make any sense, but it's still worth giving a 5-star rating. It's right at the mark, while Paris' debut novel exploded and broke the scale. It's quite difficult for me to explain, but if you're a fan of her writing, you'll know what I'm talking about. THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO GOOD — it was fast-paced and everything I could have ever wanted from a psychological thriller. Of course, I base my opinion of psychological thrillers on a B.A. Paris scale. 

This story is basically about a woman named Cass who is traumatized after not helping a woman stuck by the side of the road one rainy night as she was returning home from a party. It turns out that the woman is found killed the next day, and Cass begins to "go crazy" as she receives silent calls, forgets the smallest things, and finds that her life is changing for the worse. Unfortunately, that's all I'm able to tell and explain to you without progressing into full SPOILER mode. And I feel like that's enough for me to tell you to cause you to want to read this book.







The Breakdown left me speechless and dying for more books by B.A. Paris. I was SUPER shocked with the ending and the result to all of the mysteries hidden in between the lines here. I love fetching these kinds of books so that for a couple of hours, I have the chance to play detective and pretend that I'm actually solving some major mystery with all of the hints given to me (even if they're not completely obvious). 

I HAVE NO QUESTION FOR YOU, JUST A PLEAD FOR YOU TO GO GET EVERYTHING WRITTEN BY B.A. PARIS RIGHT NOW.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstorm // Beautifully Written

Not If I See You First, by Eric Lindstorm
Publication: December 1, 2015, by Poppy
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 310
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating: ½

Parker Grant doesn’t need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That’s why she created the Rules: Don’t treat her any differently just because she’s blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.
When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there’s only one way to react—shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that’s right, her eyes don’t work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn’t cried since her dad’s death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened—both with Scott, and her dad—the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.
Combining a fiercely engaging voice with true heart, debut author Eric Lindstrom’s Not If I See You First illuminates those blind spots that we all have in life, whether visually impaired or not.

My Thoughts:

Okay, let's just make this clear and evident: I LOVED THIS BOOK. SO much. It has been the LONGEST time since I peeked at the cover and even considered writing a review for it (that's how big the reading slump I was in WAS), but to this day, I can still remember me adoring every single moment of the experience. I love good old hearty novels that bring out emotions in me. Sure, you can call this a contemporary romance about a bunch of teenagers experiencing the high-school life and grief, however, it was more than that. Because, the main point and concept which this story surrounded was the fact that its protagonist, Parker, is blind. I can tell you that I do not know of any other YA novels based around a blind character. It's really sad to see that, as the subject is common in society.

In case you were curious about what little thing made me give this a 4.5 star rating instead of a 5 star one, it's Parker, unfortunately. Parker was a very unlikeable character. Obviously, the author's intentions were for her to be like that, however, I felt that she was a little too unlikeable. Parker's life is full of a lot of misfortune, including the fact that her father just died and her blindness, but, I don't know, I didn't see anything amazing about her. She definitely redeemed herself by the end, which did not make me hate her excessively. Let's just say that her love interest, Scott, made everything better.

I LOVED THE ROMANCE IN THIS STORY. It made me feel all gushy and happy, emotions that are absolutely difficult for me to feel when reading every single chick-lit story. This is not your typical chick-lit story, to make things clear. IT WAS MORE. It had purpose, and I was able to speed through it. Those are the kinds of books people remember forever.

Not If I See You First was gorgeous; it has made me become even more excited to pick up Eric Lindstorm's other books. It's a special one that made my insides explode with happiness.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

Are there any other YA books with a blind character?

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton // WOW.

Baby Doll, by Hollie Overton
Publication: July 12, 2016, by Redhook
Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 281
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating: ½

Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.
This is what happens next...
...to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter...and to her captor.

My Thoughts:

Baby Doll was absolutely mind-blowing. It was not your typical story about a kidnapper/kidnapper victim situation; it was more than that. This was about the aftermath of a woman being kidnapped and what happens next as she strives to prove who her kidnapper was. At the same time, she is left stranded and abandoned in the real world with her daughter, Sky, who was born and held captive. This was definitely a novel full of emotions and is written and full of emotions and EVERYTHING SAD. However, I must admit that it was a really quick read that I got through in a day because it was just so amazing. At the moment of reading, I constantly had shivers rolling down my spine, and it was just a traumatizing read in its entirety. But at the same time, it was a gorgeous read I would recommend to everyone. If you're a teen, this is for you - if you're an adult, this is also for you.

The writing and premise which Overton showcased in Baby Doll was unique and absolutely memorable. Although I don't remember every portion of the plot, I can tell you that I will remember the emotions this book gave me forever. *heart eyes*

READ THIS. I promise you it's not like Room. It's different, more thrilling, and even features protagonists who are twins!

*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What are some other books about kidnapping?

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney // Thrilling and Messed Up

The Girl Before, by J.P. Delaney
Publication: January 24, 2017, by Ballantine Books
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating: 

Emma:
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.
Jane:
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before.

My Thoughts:

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST INSANE BOOKS I'VE EVER READ. I-N-S-A-N-E. By insane, I mean mind-warping and messed-up and super-cool. It was interesting and had the coolest concept I have ever read about. And you can tell that it's a popular one due to the fact that it is actually becoming a movie (thanks to Universal)! I would have given this a pure five-star rating if the ending was more clear. This book left me guessing, aching for more, and aching for my questions to be answered. It seemed rushed and it just did not provide me with fulfillment, you know? Most of the time, I feel like the purpose of books and the reasons for books existing is to entertain audiences and, by the end, provide some sort of closure. This, sadly, did not, which is why I had to deduct a star from the rating. HOWEVER: this was still a great, pretty awesome read I totally recommend to everyone.

What J.P. Delaney basically writes about, in a nutshell, is about the house on One Folgate Street. It's a psycho house, in case you were wondering. And how do we know this? Because of the rules. Yeah; there are like 200 CRAZY rules that come with living in the house. And they're not your typical "NO PARTIES" kinds of rules: THESE ARE MESSED UP, control-freak kinds of rules. Two protagonists, which J.P. Delaney switches between (Emma and Jane), both experience the horrors of the home and deal with the owner, who is creepy too.

Let's just say that this entire novel has some creepy vibes. The romance (if that's what you can call it0 was weird though intriguing and I am just really interested in seeing more literature by the author. IT'S GOING TO BE SO GOOD. I CAN'T WAIT.

The Girl Before really made me question everyone I know, to be quite honest. XD It's just a book that shows how we really do not know the people we interact with. There's mystery to everything and the situations we put ourselves in may have consequences.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is the most 'messed up' book you've read?

I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski // The Best Summer Read Ever

I See London, I See France (I See London, I See France #1), by Sarah Mlynowski
Publication: July 11, 2017, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 378
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.
As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera…wearing only her polka-dot underpants.

My Thoughts:

I See London, I See France is literally a traveller slash bookworm's dream novel. THIS WAS MY DREAM NOVEL. It was my #1 most anticipated read of all of 2017, and I couldn't wait to devour it during my vacation. Although I didn't spend my vacation in Europe (I really, really wanted to), at least Sarah Mlynowski provided me with the opportunity to pretend that I was exploring London, Paris, Italy and Switzerland. This was seriously my favourite read of last year. (It's crazy to see how I'm writing this review a year later haha.)

This book has a very, VERY important theme: friendship. More books should focus on the reality of friendship in the manner that this one did. Normally, authors tend to show that every girl has a BFF and they are so alike that they will conquer the world and beat all the bullies who are stealing their boyfriends. Trust me on that one; you can find that in literally every cheesy chick-lit story. Mlynowski, as always (I love her writing!), took this premise and showed the reality of friendship and even travelling. Unless you're a millionaire, it is extremely difficult to be travelling to luxury hotels and treating yourself to expensive dinners by the riverside every night. You know what I mean? This book was just so realistic and beautiful. I am in LOVE.

As for the premise which is explored, what the book focused on was a summer trip between two best friends throughout Europe. Sydney and Leela are heading on a trip throughout Switzerland, London, France, and Italy with the main focus of Leela forgetting about her ex-boyfriend, who actually shows up on their flight. THINGS GET CRAZY SOON AFTER, and there are so many plot twists and suspense throughout the book that will surely keep you interested. I am so excited for the sequel to this beauty, and I extremely appreciated the romance and nice pacing that this provided. Therefore, this was definitely a win over a miss.

Even if you do not call yourself an avid fan of contemporary romance, I still recommend I See London, I See France. It is just a beautiful story that is unlike many others and one I will remember for years. In fact, I would really like to reread it!

What is your favourite travel-themed novel?

Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally // HOLY MOLY.

Coming Up for Air (Hundred Oaks), by Miranda Kenneally
Publication: July 4, 2017, by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic tryout, so Maggie feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love?

My Thoughts:

I have really, really avoided writing this review. Why, you may ask? Why be so lazy? *giggles* Because I didn't want to let this series go. Miranda Kenneally's Thousand Oaks series has been with me since the start - the start of my obsession with reading and all things YA fiction. Coming Up For Air was just as good as the others in this series, and I am so obsessed with it. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for the author's writing and what is yet to come! 

I feel that this series HAD to end because Kenneally ran out of sports to write about — we have been through them all: soccer, football, baseball, running, swimming, you name it! Haha - but in an honest sense, I must say that what I loved most about this book was the fact that romance was incorporated in a realistic way. Maggie and Levi had the most passionate relationship ever (!! seriously!), and I cannot get them out of my head. 

This could’ve been bad—real bad. You see, I’m used to a lot of those cheesy fluffy contemporaries with a lot of unrealism in them. I could spend hours naming them all, but I’d rather not since contemporary is probably my favourite genre. 

I feel like books in this genre could either go one way or the other. The characters in this one seemed more mature and relatable than the others of the author, and that surely shone a light onto this all, just like a little topping or sprinkle of something onto your ice cream sundae. Like really, it was the magical touch and new-thing to this series. It was what we needed to get this to a whole other level. 

Buy, loan, grab, steal (just kidding) this book IMMEDIATELY. I promise you will adore it, and if you (somehow) don't, I'll kindly (or forcefully) ask you to pick up the first books of the series and devour them. There is literally no way that you will not find this book enjoyable. Now, go ahead and go for it!

What was the best final book of a series you recently read?