YOLO by Lauren Myracle Review

YOLO (Internet Girls #4), by Lauren Myracle

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Chick-lit, Contemporary, Romance

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Publication: August 26, 2014, by Amulet Books

Format: Hardcover Edition (borrowed)





Goodreads Summary: Through texts and messages, the mega-bestselling, beloved Internet Girls series followed the ups and downs of school for three very different, very close friends. Now it’s freshman year of college for the winsome threesome, and *everything* is different. For one, the best friends are facing their first semester apart. Way, way apart. Maddie’s in California, Zoe’s in Ohio, and Angela’s back in Georgia. And it’s not just the girls who are separated. Zoe’s worried that Doug wants to break up now that they’re at different schools, and Maddie’s boyfriend, Ian, is on the other side of the country.In the face of change and diverging paths, Maddie’s got a plan to keep the friends close, and it involves embracing the present, making memories, and . . . roller derby! Using of-the-moment technology, Lauren Myracle brings her groundbreaking series into the brave new virtual world of texting and tweets.

Review:

" mad maddie: what do you mean, why?

  mad maddie: what's the point of torturing ourselves by talking about something we can't have?

  SnowAngel: :/

  SnowAngel: um, because sharing your feelings would make you feel better? 

  mad maddie: ohhhh

  mad maddie: and what wld I say? that I wish I'd gone to UGA instead of Santa Cruz so that we cld hold hands and walk to class together and crawl into the same bed every night? that California is so much farther away than I thought? that without him, I feel like I'm dying inside? "

    Maddie, Angela, and Zoe have been there for me and with me since I was young. Pre-teen age, actually. I first read TTYL when I was 10. Sure, it was a little too mature for me at the time, but the actuality of reading a book in text format seemed so interesting and awesome. That was before. Now, the text format doesn't matter. It's more than that. It's their stories, their friendship, their believing. Yeah, that sounds cheesy, but that's what it did for me, and I'm so thankful for their teaching and story. 

    It's been many years since I finished the supposedly "last book," L8R, G8R, and I would never think that a new book would be released in this series. Finding this out, I wanted YOLO more than anything—to experience and read about what happened later, and to fall asleep knowing the fact that everything turned out okay in the end and that my favourite trio is happy. 

     You're probably thinking: What could three girls be texting about in 200 pages? Sure, it's not many pages and this looks like a rather quick read, but in fact, I took my time reading it because I know that I won't get to enjoy their stories anymore except if I re-read them, which I probably will in the future. Lauren Myracle has written 200 pages of happiness, 200 pages of amazingness, 200 pages of believable friendship that makes you wish that you can experience what they experienced with each other. 

      The story begins with the threesome apart. Angela's in Georgia, living in a dorm with her new sorority sisters. Maddie's in Santa Cruz living in a dorm full of girls who all knew each other in high schools and are practically besties. And Zoe? Zoe's in Ohio, two hours away from her boyfriend, Doug, in a single dorm. As much as they wish they could be together, they're where they are for separate reasons, and when Maddie tries to get the other two to agree to a pact about living your life (because YOLO), they're in. At the same time, they all have their own struggles and are beginning to realize what they really want to do in life and how much they really need each other.

      Looking back to their attitudes and personalities back in the first book, the character-developments have been crazy. 

       That's ^ what I was like when meeting them for the first time in this book. Sure, the trio still have their own quirks and weird stuff, but in the end, they've all went beyond their personal boundaries. High-five to my favourite chicks!

       Zoe: As for who went the craziest in personality, Zoe comes to mind. Through the beginning of this book to the middle, I hated her. She's too goody and too whiny and doesn't let others do what they want. But after the incident with Doug, she changed, and I'm actually happy to say for the better. She let loose, but in good ways. Her usual two-faced self went to one good face. 

      Maddie: Man, has she changed. For most of the book, our crazy-partying Mads has turned into a depressed girl. And, everyone sensed it, including Zoe and Angela. Maddie has always been my favourite character out of the three, and I hated to see that the whole college-experience was bringing her down. Man, but what awesome friends she has!

    Angela: Angela? Partier? NOO! Yeah, she was. This girl gave me so many LOL moments—she stunned me, as usual. Total favourite. She quirked me up, hehe.

      Lauren Myracle always creates a bumpy ride for us with real-life problems, but her books are so fun. As an ending to a fabulous series that has taught me a lot and has given me a new perspective on friendship in literature, it was amazing. I basically couldn't have asked for anything better, except a stronger beginning. Fab!

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas Review: IDEALLY AWESOME.

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3), by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, High Fantasy, Romance, Action

Rating: 4/5 stars

Publication: September 2, 2014, by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Format: Hardcover Edition




Goodreads Summary: Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

Review:

Beware of spoilers below. Just warning ya. ;)

"It was like being underwater again. Like charging into Nehemia's room and finding that beautiful body mutilated on the bed. Like seeing Galan Ashryver, beloved and brave, riding off into the sunset to the cheers of his people."

WOW. WOW. WOW. I'm sitting here, speechless and unable to put my thoughts together after this one hell of a thrill-ride. *takes 5 deep breaths* I don't know what to say, think, act, or be after reading this book. 600 pages of awesomeness? Yes, you've got it right here.

As you may or may not have known, this series has SO MANY FANS. There's only a few authors who can grab a reader and intrigue them so easily, and that's what Sarah J. Maas simply does to me, and to thousands of other people. Almost every single review I've read on a book from this series is strictly a rave and fangirled. 4-5 stars, usually. Thankfully I began reading this series a little late, so the Crown of Midnight cliffhanger and book-hangover was worth it to wait for another couple of weeks. But now, I'm dying here. *joins the club of crying, bawling, and angry people*

Eh. I can't believe it's all over—for now, at least. I spent only a few hours tearing through this novel (at once in one sitting) because I loved it too much. I felt that Sarah's writing is so coincidental (in a good way) and she purposely creates such horrifying cliffhangers because she wants us to be in mutual pain. Either way, I still love and heart you, Sarah, Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, and Rowan. :)

So really, *thinks hard* where does this book began. As Part One, Heir of Ash comes into, Celaena is now at her destination, Wendlyn. Crown of Midnight left off with a crazy cliffhanger and suspenseful ending that we couldn't let go, and we're fast-forwarded into a little off into the future from the past's events. This chick, as we'd expect her to be, has been alone, but strong during this time although the truth behind her and her destiny is boggling her mind to this day. Once she arrives, she meets Rowan, fae prince and warrior, and he hates her immediately. The rumours behind her "assassin past" lies beneath her, and there are some people who know, which can possibly change everything. 

Although romance wasn't a large aspect of this book, Maas of course had to add it in because we all love Chaol, Dorian, and now ROWAN. Damn. Who'd expect another bunch of awesome characters to be added in?

"For the better part of half an hour, the creatures fought in the rainy dark, until those wretched shrieks, turned victorious, and the unearthly roars sounded no more. Celaena and Rowan held tight to each other and did not dare close their eyes for the entirety of the night."

Okay. I ship them a little, but I'm still Team CHAOL AND DORIAN. No doubt about it. But finally, Celaena has someone who is so similar and alike to her that she can confide and confess anything to them without some secrets and love mysteries. There were the romance moments between them, though, but I found that it didn't change anything between her and the other men.

Just like the other books, the feels came back. And they hit me HARD. I have to admit that I wasn't crying or anything, but I went through such jittery mood swings and anger and frustration and basically all the feels that you have been hit with in the previous books times TEN. 

So that does make me think... *twirls moustache* Do feels get me to give the book a higher rating? Absolutely, and the feels in this one probably gave this book a point five better as well.

I felt like I was on fire for more than half of the time while reading this. I DESERVED THE HEIR. *laughs to self* Get it, heir of fire? I'm on fire? xD

This book was huge, no lies. Not everyone can go through a 600-paged book so easily, but I just had to because my love for this series is undying. It almost had everything I was looking for from a sequel to CoM. Character-development—ten thousand checkmarks, perfect plot—almost, action—YESYESYES!

Sarah introduced us to two main new characters, with a couple side ones. But really, both Rowan and Manon has their own POVs as well as Celaena and Chaol. Rowan was kick-ass, but sweet and sympathetic at the same time. He suited Celaena perfectly, but I cannot see anything possibly more than just a strong bond and friendship. *twiddles fingers together* Manon was a little too sensible, but you know, she added some sass into the novel—not that we didn't have enough of it beforehand. 

Celaena was Celaena—perfection and my role model, Chaol was hot, steamy, and wanting, but I wish we had more Dorian. Damn, he was only mentioned a few times, and there were no large scenes incorporated with him. Does this mean that there will never be anything between him and Celaena?

"Aedion began roaring—roaring and cursing at the king, thrashing against his chains, but the guards hauled him away, and Chaol was too stunned to do anything other than watch the rest of Sorscha's body topple to the ground. And then Dorian, still screaming, was scrambling through the blood toward it—toward her head, as if he could put it back. As if he could piece her together."

I think my love for Dorian is crazy and there's a tiny chance that I might love him more than I adore Chaol, and maybe that's why this went to a four star rating? 

In the end, this series is #1 and beyond for me. Sarah J. Maas is my favourite author—she stuns me during every chapter, page, sentence, and word that she writes. I guess that's the magic of writing a book that makes you want to fight for a heir of fire. 

Top Ten Tuesday #5: Best Friendship Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

       I am a total sucker for books that have gorgeous friendships. I mean, who wouldn't? Here are my ten favourites.

   #1: Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson

       Whenever someone asks me, "What is the best book that deals with friendship?," I always end up saying, Since You've Been Gone with no doubts. This book is so beautiful and I'd read it over and over again.

#2: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

         This is one of my all-time favourites. Charlie and Sam were just adorable together, and really, this book deserves all of the hype and fangirling. I STILL NEED TO SEE THE MOVIE!           

                                    #3: The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

          This made me realize that I really need to re-read this again, soon. Thanks to seventh grade, this book has changed my life and so has its friendship inside.

#4: Maybe One Day, by Melissa Kantor

           One of the cancer stories that changed my life. Melissa Kantor grabs you with her protagonist's power, and you're unable to leave Olivia's side until the fierce ending.

#5: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

             Who could forget about this old-time, chick-lit classic that sparked many teenagers' hearts and brought a gorgeous movie to life? This one is perfect, no doubt about it.

#6: The Lying Game, by Sara Shepard

             Although these two sisters never really ended up talking face to face, the relationship that they had with others and with each other in a way is unforgettable. This series was way better than PLL, and I recommend it for anyone looking for something different.

#7: The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han

                This is the series that really changed my life looking into YA-contemporary lit. And, it also brought up the relationships between boys and girls--you can be just friends, you know. ;)

#8: Paper Towns, by John Green

              I can't wait for the movie of this (JULY 31, 2015) with Nat Wolff! Quentin and Margo not only had a romance, but a stunning friendship that literally left me dying for more. Sadly, no sequel... But I guess we can imagine what happens next. 

#9: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han

             Yum! A Jenny Han duo! This literally had the best sister-love relationship I've ever seen. You got to see what I'm talking about here!

#10: Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan

              Two boys who share the same name who fall in love? 

     So there you have it! What are your favourite friendship reads?