I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman // Gayle Forman Has Done It Again!

I Have Lost My Way, by Gayle Forman
Publication: April 1, 2018, by Penguin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

A powerful display of empathy and friendship from the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of If I Stay. Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from home to find the boy that he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City after a family tragedy leaves him isolated on the outskirts of Washington state. After the three of them collide in Central Park, they slowly reveal the parts of their past that they haven't been able to confront, and together, they find their way back to who they're supposed to be. Told over the course of a single day from three different perspectives, Gayle Forman's newest novel about the power of friendship and being true to who you are is filled with the elegant prose that her fans have come to know and love.

My Thoughts:

I Have Lost My Way was surprisingly such an emotional read. Unlike most YA contemporary-romances, which usually focus on the perks and positives of romance in characters' lives, this book left me as an emotional wreck. Gayle Forman's newest novel focuses on the struggles each of us face, and how it is okay and acceptable for each of us to lose our ways. This is a story of hope and friendship and it provides us with a sense of reassurance that everything will be okay, even if we encounter a bad day or two. As long as we have people in our lives who are there to support us, everything will be just fine.

I am a GIGANTIC fan of Gayle Forman's work. After reading and falling in love with her If I Stay duology, I knew that her writing truly interests me and has a way to my heart. This book absolutely did as well. It focuses on three teenage characters who are all struggling, but in different ways. And somehow, Forman moulded these characters into figures who each reader will form a connection with. The characters seemed so real that I was ready to pick up my phone at times and give them a call to reassure them that I was there for them. That's how realistic this story is. I don't think there's a single person in this world who wouldn't want to read a realistic story about realistic characters. It's truly a major highlight.

Gayle's recent story focuses on the lives of three main characters: Freya, a singer who is becoming more popular, but hides a major secret about losing her voice, Harun, a boy wanting to run away from home to hide his secret of being gay, and Nathaniel, a boy who flew to New York City to escape the trauma he left behind in Washington state. Somehow, the three meet each other and find that they each have lost their ways. 

And here comes the main message of the story which I feel that many contemporary stories these days (especially for teens) lack: it is okay to be imperfect and to be sad. I find that all chick-lit stories are fluffy and cute and showcase the perfect lives of characters. But, here, Gayle Forman shows, especially through Freya's character, that your dreams can come true and that you can have what you've always wanted, but that doesn't mean that your life is perfect or that you're always happy. This book was a literal shock to me especially because of that message. Each character seemed to have what they always wanted most: Freya: her singing career, Harun: a boyfriend, and Nathaniel: the best relationship possible with his father, however, that doesn't mean that they were always happy. This story highlights how life is unpredictable, and how things may instantly change, altering your opinion on the things that have always made you happy. This story really hit home. 

While I can admit that the story did include some romantic aspects, it wasn't the main focus. I loved the raw writing and burst of emotions that this book gave me. It really was a special one; I rarely form this kind of connection with characters, so this shows you that this one is a keeper.

I Have Lost My Way was one of the most realistic books I've read in a while; I finished it in a sitting and it left me feeling happy and sad and all of the possible emotions out there. It's rare for a book to do that to me; I guess that is why I love Gayle Forman's writing so much. 

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

What are some emotional YA books you've read?

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins // Not Understanding the Hype

Into the Water, by Paula Hawkins
Publication: May 2, 2017, by Riverhead Books
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 386
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help. Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind. But Jules is afraid. So afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped. And most of all she’s afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool . . .

My Thoughts:

DNF @ 150 pages

Paula Hawkins always *seemed* like an author whose writing I will one day enjoy. In case you didn't know, I am the biggest fan of psychological thrillers, so, naturally, Into the Water really intrigued me. I never read (or watched) The Girl on the Train, though after hearing about all its hype, I figured that this new release would be the kind of read I would enjoy. I was completely wrong, let's say that. This book was not my cup of tea—I was really disappointed with its outcome, and found that there are many, MANY better thrillers out there that I will surely enjoy in the coming future. 

From my viewpoint, Paula Hawkins' writing is so overhyped. I don't understand why everyone is going crazy: have y'all not read other better thrillers before? B.A. Paris? Mary Kubica? UGH. This book was really confusing (with the millions of perspectives - I couldn't tell who was who by the time I reached page sixty) and it lacked any kind of plot. I hate when this happens during my reading experience; aren't books supposed to have a purpose and a plot? Well, this unfortunately lacked any sort of purpose and interesting writing style that would allow me to want to pay attention to the storyline (or lack thereof). I really disliked this book, and I must say that it's one of the worst I've read in a while. I don't think I've ever been disappointed by a psychological thriller, but Paula Hawkins' newest story just did that. I can say I'm absolutely disappointed; I'd never pick this one up again. 

Into the Water was a complete disappointment. Trust me: do not risk being confused and bored; read other thrillers!

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

What is the worst book of 2018 for you?

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin // Trashy.

I Hate Everyone But You, by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin
Publication: September 5, 2017, by Wednesday Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, LGBT
Pages: 344
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two of them document every wild and awkward moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

My Thoughts:

DNF @ 150(?) pages

I hate to say this, but this book was awful, and probably the worst book I've read this year. I Hate Everyone But You lowered my expectations for contemporary YA stories. Will we keep receiving and reading books that are written in this awkward format, solely because the whole world is under a social media craze? This book was written ONLY in the format of emails and text messages, which I found lacking. Because of this weird, boring format, the story lacked any sort of purpose, and any sort of a plot. In total, the most I can say is that there was no point to this story. I do not see why we had to read about two characters who did not have any depth in them, and who were just trashy. Gen and Ava are the definition of trashy characters. I did not enjoy the whole college partying sorority setting where the authors literally focused on drugs, sex and alcohol. COME ON. There's more to friendships and college than just that. 

What was this book's purpose? To highlight the friendship between two damaged characters? I guess so. I'm also aware that the story eventually focuses on some LGBT aspects, but I did not read far enough to sense that. And I can imagine how lacking that would be — it's probably just an extra addition to catch the attention of some readers. Ugh.

I Hate Everyone But You was a complete disappointment. And I don't even feel bad about giving this a one-star rating. It was boring, dumb, and the format just made me yawn. Skip this one for a better contemporary read. There are many.

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

What was the worst book of 2018 so far for you?

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena // Whoa. This Was Mind-Warping.

A Stranger in the House, by Shari Lapena
Publication: August 15, 2017, by Doubleday Canada
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary
Pages: 306
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Karen and Tom Krupp are happy—they’ve got a lovely home in upstate New York, they’re practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished—her car’s gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse—complete with phone and ID—behind.
There's a knock on the door—the police are there to take Tom to the hospital where his wife has been admitted. She had a car accident, and lost control as she sped through the worst part of town.
The accident has left Karen with a concussion and a few scrapes. Still, she’s mostly okay—except that she can’t remember what she was doing or where she was when she crashed. The cops think her memory loss is highly convenient, and they suspect she was up to no good.
Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move on with her life. Then she realizes something’s been moved. Something’s not quite right. Someone’s been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions.
Because in this house, everyone’s a stranger. Everyone has something they’d rather keep hidden. Something they might even kill to keep quiet. 

My Thoughts:

After devouring Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door and falling in love with this genre of mystery/thrillers, or, more specifically, psychological thrillers, I decided that I was in love with Lapena's writing. Little did I know that she would be releasing a new gorgeous read this summer until I received it from the publisher. A Stranger in the House wasn't as good as Lapena's debut novel, however, it was extremely suspenseful and lovely. Once I began reading it, I was hooked and unable to stop sitting in the world of Tom and Karen. There were so many things I enjoyed concerning the premise of this story, and I seriously recommend this to those who love mind-warping endings and the possible hint of a sequel (which I know will not occur... but it did sure sound like it).

This should just be a movie already. Directors, producers, and film productions, PLEASE GET YOUR HANDS ON THE RIGHTS OF THIS FILM BECAUSE THE WORLD WILL BE OBSESSED. Really obsessed. Obsessed to the point that this will become more popular and well-known that Gillian Flynn's books. I feel like the world is really addicted to suspense stories, and there's only a few that could be better than this book. This book relies on its storyline and premise that involves mystery and secrets left behind in the past. You really don't know what's happening until you reach the middle part of the book. Once you're there, there's no looking back. You become obsessed to the point that you will not stop reading until it's over.

SO. This story revolves around the lives of a married couple: Tom and Karen. They live in upstate New York, and they're happy with their "perfect" lives. However, one day, Tom comes home from his job to find Karen gone, the lights on, the door unlocked, and a dinner that was beginning to be prepared. He panics, and he discovers that his wife was in a rough part of the city, and was caught in a car accident. She has amnesia, not remembering how or why she ended up in that situation. And then, more details begin to pop up, and BAM evidence points towards her having something to do with a crime exactly in that part of town. 

This was action-packed for the beginning part (maybe first 70 pages?) and then it just downgraded, and eventually picked itself up again. It had a teeter-totter pace, if you know what I mean. Through the middle part, I just felt my reading pace slow down as I began to get uninterested with the whole detective work and whatnot. But when it picked itself up again, OH MY. I couldn't stop. We also need to talk about THAT ENDING. I was in complete shock with how Lapena created EVEN MORE POSSIBLE SUSPENSE BY THE END OF THIS. Although the story's "solution to the mystery" was kind of predictable, I really enjoyed it.

 

A Stranger in the House was mind-warping, messed up, and *insert other adjectives to describe a crazy story that you couldn't get out of your mind.* I am a huge fan of Shari Lapena's writing and I will never stop picking up her stories. Please throw more of them at me!

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

What are some books similar to this?

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley // Crowley's Writing is Just Not for Me!

Words in Deep Blue, by Cath Crowley
Publication: June 6, 2017, by Alfred A. Knopf BFYR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 273
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.
Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.
Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.
As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

My Thoughts:

Words in Deep Blue was supposed to be a literal masterpiece. I mean, I always expected it to be. I wanted it to be WAAAAAY better than Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon, which was a literal TERRIBLE piece of literature. However, this fell somewhere in the middle of my expectations. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the best read of my life. I felt the poeticness in the writing, the fact that it was written about deep, dark topics like grief and heartbreak, but it lacked something. Crowley is a talented writer, however, I cannot understand the craze behind how her writing is so addicting yet beautiful. I recommend this for lovers of lyrical books, perhaps those written in prose. I really wish that IT COULD HAVE BEEN GOOD - because it looked so GOOD and the cover is gorgeous. 

This was a good story with a good storyline. I just wish that it turned out to be more action-packed, more contemporary. It felt like I was watching a black-and-white movie for a long time, with some burst of colour in between (during the moments that had a strong romance). This can definitely be classified as a contemporary-romance story, don't get me wrong, but I just felt that the author was trying to get too philosophical with the story sometimes, that it just got annoying and tiring. 

I read this a while ago, however, I felt that it was PRETTY MEMORABLE. This is a book in an Australian setting about a girl named Rachel, who moved away from her small town, leaving behind her crush and best friend, Henry Jones. Years later, Henry's girlfriend breaks up with him, and Rachel is back in town, with a new secret that she forbids herself to tell. And of course, with contemporary books' predictability, you can guess that a romance bloomed.

The romance was cute - I appreciated all of the giddy moments and cute stuff. This book had a cute vibe to it and it was definitely pleasing. It's just that I constantly found myself bored out of my mind. Maybe I needed a heart-racing thriller instead?

If you enjoyed Cath Crowley's other books and if you're willing to give a cute, deep romance a try, then go for this. But seriously - beware of the boredom that is involved! 

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

What is the last "deep" book you've read?

Release Day Review: Hello, Sunshine, by Leila Howland

Hello, Sunshine, by Leila Howland
Publication: July 11, 2017, by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

Becca Harrington is a reject. After being rebuffed by every college on her list, she needs a fresh start, so she packs up everything and moves to LA, giving herself one year to land an acting gig or kill herself trying.
Unfortunately, not everything turns out as planned, and after a few grueling months, LA is looking like the worst idea ever. As hard as she tries, Becca can’t land an agent, she's running out of cash, and her mom is hounding her to apply to more schools. In an act of desperation, Becca and her friend Marisol start posting short videos online—with the help of their adorable filmmaker neighbor, Raj—and the videos catch the attention of a TV producer. Could this be it? Her big break? Or will she have to move back home with nothing but some bad head shots and a monstrous credit-card bill?
Becca may not get the Hollywood ending she was hoping for, but perhaps she’ll learn there’s more than one way to achieve her dream.
Readers will love every page of this funny, romantic, aspirational, and ultimately triumphant novel about a girl who just wants to make it on her own.

My Thoughts:

Hello, Sunshine was a book I did not expect to enjoy. In fact, I thought I would be bored of it due to the plot revolving around a girl wishing to become an actress. We all know that becoming famous, especially in the acting industry, is quite difficult because of the over demand and popularity of this lifestyle. Our protagonist, Becca, made this book memorable. This isn't your ordinary "coming-of-age story" where a girl has dreams. This is an amazing story that basically told me, a teenage girl getting ready to apply to universities, that it is okay to follow your dreams. That sometimes the things you feel are right are not meant to be. That your happiness is more important than what "is right." This is a story about inspiration, about taking life to the next level. I absolutely adored it!

I loved how real this story was and how it wasn't cheesy whatsoever. You see, fiction is fiction for a reason, and I constantly find books being so fake, so unreal. Many of the plot events that occur in contemporaries this year are unreachable for many in today's society, but Leila Howland proved that we teens are able to make things happen if we work hard. Becca, the protagonist, wasn't accepted to any colleges for drama and decided that the only way she could follow her passions is by moving to Los Angeles, living in Hollywood and trying to find an agent who could support her. She even makes a to-do list, listing the various things that she wants to get done in California before the year is over. If someone has a dream like this, Howland proves that it is approachable, even though disastrous things may happen in the way.

Becca moves to Los Angeles from Boston after being unable to get into any university, even Julliard - the school of her dreams. She wants to be an actress, and she knows she is good at acting, however, being in the land of acting is more difficult than it seems. It's so expensive to live there, and Becca feels all alone after she is abandoned by everything she has ever known. The question that I kept asking myself as I read this was: WILL SHE MAKE IT?

I obviously will not reveal whether Becca makes it or breaks it. However, I would like to just point out a minor flaw (that did not affect my rating!) of the summary. The summary notes that Becca and her friend, Marisol, might make it big due to a web series that a producer discovers. Yay - this actually does happen in the book, but it occurs towards the end, and when I first read about the book, I expected this specific event to be a main plot point in the story. It isn't. There are more important details that the author focuses on, so I'm hoping that you're not getting the wrong message from the summary.

I loved the romance, the characters... I loved everything. We see that throughout the book, Becca deals with three different guys, and she has a different kind of relationship with all of them. It's real and authentic with one of them (RAJ) and I cannot help but go crazy. I LOVED THEM TOGETHER. Raj was also a man of colour which I am so happy about. (!!!!!) It's so cute how Leila Howland created a society for Becca that has people who are so similar to her. The friendships she creates with Marisol and Raj make me so envious. And I love how there's no jealousy with any of them. Acting is a competitive world, I'm sure, but the friendships worked out and I kind of went crazy inside BEING EXCITED FOR EVERYONE. I may sound like a weird person, but these characters became my friends by the end of the novel.

The ending was just beautiful. I will not announce whether everything turned out okay or not, but let's just say that I was SO satisfied. Satisfied to the moon and back and everywhere in between. I also am feeling some kind of withdrawal from this story and need more. I want to hear about what is going to happen in Becca's future!

Hello, Sunshine is a must-read for anyone. Whether you enjoy contemporary or not, this is an inspiring story about a girl who is not afraid of taking risks to be able to do what she is passionate about: acting. It's one of the best books of the year. GO GRAB IT!

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

What is a genre that you do not normally read but love a book that is classified in it? 

Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra // Amazing.

Only Daughter, by Anna Snoekstra
Publication: September 20, 2016, by Mira
Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating: 

In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.
She'd been enjoying her teenage summer break: working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen—blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched—though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.
Eleven years later she is replaced.
A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.
Soon the imposter is living Bec's life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends' names. Playing with her twin brothers.
But Bec's welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter—and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.

My Thoughts:

Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra was the only book I sat around with during my vacation for two plain reasons: because I was too busy sightseeing to even pick up a book and because it was just TOO good. I actually didn't want it to end, to be honest. This gorgeous heck of a novel has been sitting in my bookshelf for over a year, and I finally picked it up in March, deciding that I needed a psychological thriller boost. The plot and concept is absolutely unique and I don't think we'll ever see something like this pop up again. It seems that Anna Snoekstra just made this up instantly and wrote it down on a piece of paper, eager to write a novel to impress readers. And let me tell you: I was so impressed. If things continue to progress the way they are, THIS WILL BE THE BEST NOVEL I READ THIS YEAR. I cannot get enough of it all!

Only Daughter's unique idea stems from a missing person's case. In fact, an Australian teenager goes missing mysteriously, and another person, a doppelgänger, almost, takes her place because she is tired of running away from her own problems. That's quite an interesting way to change your life, isn't it? Well it gets creepier. The woman who is the imposter discovers that Bec (the missing girl)'s family is strange. That something is off with them. And the whole book is all about the woman trying to hide her identity and discover where Bec actually is.

I love how Snoekstra slowly and cautiously provides us with information about Bec's life. When beginning the novel, we don't immediately learn about the inner details about Bec's disappearance, but as the book progresses, THINGS GET HECTIC - FAST. And once it all got hectic I decided that I couldn't spend my waking hours wondering what would happen - I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. 

Snoekstra is just such a talented author... and I want to read EVERYTHING SHE HAS EVER WRITTEN. I really hope that she has ideas to write more psychological thrillers because I AM IN. After that surprising, suspenseful ending, I was in absolute shock and needed to recuperate. READ THIS ASAP.

Only Daughter was shocking, thrilling and one heck of a wild ride. I cannot get the story out of my mind. I truly recommend it!

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

What is the most recent psychological thriller you have read and enjoyed?