Forever in Blue, by Ann Brashares

Title: Forever in Blue

Author: Ann Brashares

Rating: 4/5 stars

Release Date: January 9, 2007

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.77

Age Group: 13+





   "Some people fall in love over and over again while some people can only do it once."


   Seeing the series leaving off here was the right thing, but at the same time, I was disappointed, mainly because I loved this series so much. Ann Brashares has created one of the best chick-literature series I've ever read, and the one that introduced me into reading YA novels.

   The Traveling Pants are in for one last, glorious summer where Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby are all ready and settled in college, where they all are finding who they are, and who they want to become. Each girl will have to make the decision to leave the pants behind, including their memories, or to keepsake and treasure them inside their hearts forever.

   I found that the third and fourth books of the series weren't the strongest, as the first two novels were. Maybe it was because of my experience, from the first novel to the last, I've squeezed many, many novels in between, hundreds for that matter, and I probably have found better ones that succeeded my expectations and more. Although the first two books were glorious five star rating novels, the last two didn't meet that up, stayed at a good four.

  This story, like I said ended in the right place, and was very interesting. Us readers knew that we had to say our last (not technically) goodbye to the series and its characters, and the story quickly went to that place.

  These girls have truly grew up from where they started. Obviously, the pants helped them grow to where they landed, but in another way, the pants grew within them. The girls were once insecure best friends who never knew that they were all somewhat alike in a way. The pants brought them together, and helped them deal with their issues when they didn't have each other, in person.

  Once upon a time, in a fictional world, were four beautiful teenage-soon to be adult girls, who never knew that one pair of jeans could change their lives forever.

Girls In Pants, by Ann Brashares

Title: Girls in Pants

Author: Ann Brashares

Rating: 4/5 stars

Release Date: June 13, 2006

Publisher: Ember

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.79

Age Group: 12+

   

   I love this series so much, it's one that I will always remember, one of the first chick-lits I've ever read before, and obviously, the winner takes it all...

    Girls In Pants left me speechless. It was so good. Not as good as the rest, but equally fantastic. 

   “When you feel someone else's pain and joy as powerfully as if it were your own, then you know you really loved them.”

   This story was amazingly written most of the time. I was very pleased with how everything flowed together swiftly, and the impact each character caused on us readers.

  

  Okay, I didn't cry, but you know what I mean.

  My favourite character out of the four lovely ladies has to be Carmen. She is one of the strongest characters that I've read about, and I loved her in the movie as well. She's the one that's got to be remembered as a soulful, strong female character.

  Overall, this book was really good. Lena, Bridget, Tibby, and Carmen all showed us girls that we have to enjoy life while it lasts, because we only have one chance.

   

 Yes, Niall!!!!

Hunting Lila, by Sarah Alderson

Title: Hunting Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Rating: 3/5 stars

Release Date: August 5, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 4.12

Age Group: 12+





   

  Oh hello, I didn't see you there. 

  I was trying to keep my mind off this novel, Hunting Lila. What a disgrace!

  Lila lives in upstate London, where she has many problems on her mind, her unusual ability, her feelings for her brother's best friend, and her mother's death. When she gets mugged, Lila heads straight to Los Angeles to her brother, Jack, and hopes for the best to hide away from her problems, and to find Alex. Lila discovers that Jack and Alex work for a secret organization and that they're hunting down the men that killed her mother years before. It all adds up to her finding out the truth..,

   

   I liked the idea of this novel, at least in the beginning. Different and exposing us in what's in the real world, I enjoyed reading the beginning, and how Lila got to where she is. Getting in the middle towards the end, the author really bored me out of my mind.

   

    What was the point here? They knew who the killers were, just finish the story and that's all! Create some other dramatic thing, something that will be useful here!

    Excuse me for my anger, but that's the truth. (The Glee gif up there describes a lot of my emotional feelings here!)

    Lila was a good lead, I can say that. She was an interesting type of girl, and probably one of the main reasons why this book had a three-star rating for me.

   Then we have the males, who really didn't make a difference for me, whatsoever.

   I really don't have much to say about this novel, other than that I wasn't so happy with out it ended up being.

  

The 5th Wave, by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Rating: 3/5 stars

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Format: Hardcover Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 4.11

Age Group: 12+






     How many times have I told myself this! I shouldn't always trust the reviewers on what books to read! This was one of the cases that I regretted. The 5th Wave was a book that practically ruined my day, even though it's still an average/okay rating.

    “But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.”


     Cassiopeia also known as Cassie is one of the last people on Earth left after the 4th Wave, at least she thinks she is. Now, on the dawn of the 5th Wave, she has to fight for her survival, and has to remember that no one can be trusted, anyone can be an Other. When Cassie meets Evan Walker, he may be the key for finding her brother that may be alive.

   

    

     So, I have three main problems with this novel, lets separate them to make it easier.

   

   

Problem #1: The Point of Views (POVs)

     

    This was the worst problem I had, and probably a lot of readers would agree with me on this one. 

  I like reading different point of views, I really do. I'm the type of person who needs clarification when things are confusing. Yancey created about 4 or 5 different POVs, I really didn't keep track. Sure, keep it that way dude, but next time, maybe you could write who is who under the chapters or parts? Because every few chapters, the point of views changed, and you really couldn't tell who the heck was telling their story.

     

   

   The only character's view I only looked forward in reading and who I wanted to see what happens to was Cassie's. She was the type of character that I love, she reminds me of a mixture between Katniss in The Hunger Games, and rebel Tris in Veronica Roth's Divergent. Without her, this book would probably have a very low rating. Thanks author, at least for that.

   

Problem #2: The Romance

   If you've read my other reviews, you probably have found out that I'm a sucker for romance. I love it! Now, the romance between Cassie and Evan, or Cassie and Ben, whatever it was, sucked! 

  This was so unexperienced. One minute Cassie and Evan are just talking, the next they're making out. It happened way too fast! The hardly even found out things about each other, Cassie said that she trusts no one, how come she trusted Evan in the beginning?

  

   Usually romances in novels give me chills or butterflies in my stomach, this gave me nothing. Not one squeal.

  Okay. I'm using way too many gifs.

  Problem #3: Reviews

   One of the only reasons why I picked up this book was because of the good reviews written about this. Most people said that it was a 5 star rating novel, the next Hunger Games, yeah right.

  

  Jennifer, no one will ever beat your story, don't worry.

   I've learned that I can't trust my fellow bookworms all of the time.You all are wonderful, but that doesn't mean that I will trust your instincts 24/7. From now on, I will buy books that look interesting to me, not from what I heard is good.

  

   Okay, everyone! Later!

  

 

Reality Check, by Jen Calonita

Title: Reality Check

Author: Jen Calonita

Rating: 4/5 stars

Release Date: June 14, 2010

Publisher: Poppy

Format: Hardcover Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.63

Age Group: 11+





    I've always loved Jen Calonita's novels, they always were fabulous, and made my day. I guess that this one could also be added to the list.

    Charlie, Hallie, Keiran, and Brooke are four best friends who live in an unknown small town in Long Island. When Charlie is suddenly offered a spot in her own reality TV show, with her three besties also starring, she is glad to take the offer. All she doesn't know is that friends shouldn't let friends do reality shows, because they could sure ruin friendships, some for forever...

   I left you hanging there, didn't I?

   I really liked this book. It seems that the author has a lot of experience with celebrities and reality TV, some of the things mentioned were surprising to me, I didn't even know them!

  The writing was settled down great, everything that happened was supposed to happen, and the author added just enough of details to catch the readers attention. To tell you the truth, at some moments I got bored, but the story was really interesting, and caught my attention, that's for sure. I'm glad I picked this one up.

   I felt that Charlie was a strong lead. She wasn't shy, she had confidence, and just enough of that girl-power in her. Hallie and Keiran were also great, (I loved the ending!) but that brat, Brooke, just went above and beyond, in a bad way. I couldn't stand her! I knew that the author probably was trying to make her sound selfish and snobby, but for me, she just went over the line! I'm glad to see the story ended the way it was supposed to, at least in my opinion.

  This was a strong, fun summer read for all of those who get bored easily.

Glow, by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Title: Glow

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Release Date: September 13, 2011

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Format: Hardcover Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.57

Age Group: 12+






     From this whole summer, this is one of the most unique and interesting novels that I've read. Glow has a concept and idea that I've never read about.

     “There is a design working behind the curtain of the stars, and we are fulfilling it, drawn toward the future on the tide of time, toward our destiny as the first settlers of a new world."

The room was still. He has them, she thought.”

      Waverly was one of the first who were ever conceived in deep space, as well as her boyfriend, Kieran. Both are happily living on the Empyrean, a ship bringing hundreds to the New Earth, where everything will be safe and good for the human beings. When they find out secretive things about their enemy ship, the New Horizon, they ought to seek for more information, but even worse, an attack is preformed on their ship, and all of the young girls are "rescued" by the attackers, and taken to the New Horizon. Waverly and Kieran are instantly separated, and both are wondering if they'll ever make it out alive.

     As you can see, I enjoyed reading this novel so much. It's my first time reading about the future in space, and I loved it. 

     In the beginning, this book was really hard to pick up. The whole idea was new to me, and I really didn't know what to expect. I'd say that this was a sci-fi dystopia romance, something that I'm always looking forward in reading a book. 

    After the incident happened, I began becoming more and more interested, until the point where I couldn't put this down. The author creates such a huge impact on us readers, and we'd never want to let Glow go.

   The author has created a great female lead, Waverly. This girl knew what she was in for, and very brave, in my opinion. Waverly showed that girls could change the world, and the way we humans think, naturally. 

    The males in this novel weren't all amusing. I found both Kieran and Seth both cruel and selfish. Waverly should've accepted the proposal in the beginning of the novel, everything would've changed between the relationships between the two. I felt that there really wasn't a love triangle here, Seth and Waverly technically just met, they really didn't have much contact in this novel, hopefully something will start to pick up, and I will realize that Seth is a heartthrob after all.

    Glow was a fantastic novel, and I can't wait for more. A perfect dystopian, sci-fi read for all of the teens out there.

Skinny-Dipping, by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Skinny-Dipping

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Rating: 4/5 stars

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.80

Age Group: 12+






      Melissa de la Cruz seriously is a brilliant author, I can't wait for more from her!

      After reading the terrific Beach Lane, I couldn't wait for the next summery one, Skinny-Dipping. What can be more fun than spending a few hours with my three favourite Hampton gals, Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui?

     “That was the thing about pictures--they were worth a thousand words, but sometimes they weren't the right ones.”

      Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui are back in the Hamptons for another hot, skinny-dipping summer. Eliza isn't back as an Au Pair, she's applying for a job in the hit new club, The Seventh Circle. Could she keep her Palm Beach secret away from Mara, who's still heartbroken from her breakup with Ryan? Jacqui has sworn off boys, but when Phillipe, the hot new French Au Pair shows up, she may be regretting everything she said. Boys, revenge, and secrets, the Au Pairs are back for a summer to remember.

       I can say this--the first novel was absolutely better, but I really can't complain about the story/writing in this one. I was mostly captivated, there was so much drama in this one I couldn't hold my horses. De la Cruz really knows how to spice things up, especially for teen readers like myself.

       What happened with my favourite character, Mara? I think I felt the same way about her as Ryan did, that the Hamptons really came to her and changed her. She seemed bratty and snobby, I don't know what to say. Eliza and Jacqui of course are darlings, their personalities make this novel even stronger without them.

       Sun-Kissed, and Crazy Hot, here I come, because I just can't enough of the Au Pairs!

How My Summer Went Up In Flames. by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Title: How My Summer Went Up In Flames

Author: Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.76

Age Group: 12+





   Expecting better, How My Summer Went Up In Flames was an okay novel.

   “Sometimes when you don't know what to do, it's okay to do nothing.”

    Crazy Rosie now is on a restraining order away from her ex-boyfriend, Joey, after she supposedly "lit his car on fire." Not knowing what to do with her life, Rosie has no choice but to go on a road trip all the way to Arizona with her next door neighbour and his two friends, who are also brothers. Rosie seriously doesn't know that she's in for a wacky, fun summer.

    Maybe it was just me, I don't know, I really didn't feel for this novel in the start. The plotline seemed very mainstream, and I knew that it would obviously turn into one of those cheesy summer-road trip romances where the main character (girl) will fall in love with one of the guys who is also traveling with her to wherever they're going. And to tell you the truth, that's all that it was.

    Now, you're probably asking, why then do I give this a three-point five star rating? Well, let me tell you. The story picked up, and I ended up liking it by the end. I began to read it much quicker afterwards, and it didn't turn out so bad after all. That's good I took the chance.

    I found Rosie to be a little whiny. She kind of made a dumb decision to actually do what she did in the beginning of the book, I would never have done that, like it or not, and seriously? She got a restraining order for that and a little following around? If the ex actually stood up to her and told her that she's going mad, maybe she would've listened. Ugh, that's what bugs me the most, and that she also didn't know what she wanted.

   Logan wasn't the oh-my-gosh guy that I happen to fall for in many novels. He just seemed... okay. I didn't get butterflies listening to him speak, or think, I want him!

   Spencer and Matty were good characters, they sure were hilarious at times! I wish that those guys got their own point-of-views!

    So, overall, this novel was okay, a good read, not that I would pick it up again anytime soon.


 

All These Things I've Done, by Gabrielle Zevin

Title: All These Things I've Done

Author: Gabrielle Zevin

Rating: 5/5 stars

Release Date: September 6, 2011

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Format: Hardcover Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.74

Age Group: 12+





      I had low expectations for this novel, but it ended up being much better than what I thought it would be. In fact, it was amazing!


     “Stop saying that! You sound absurd, and I don't even think you mean it. Besides, I'd never marry you," I told him. "I'm sixteen, and you're a slut, and you can't stop saying preposterous things!"

"True," he admitted. He kissed me on the lips and then I closed the door.”

     You see what I mean? This book was hilarious, in its own way, it had its own "thing" that will cause readers to fall in love with the realistic characters.

    Anya Balanchine is a sixteen-year old, living in the year of 2083, in upstate New York City, where she is known as the city's most notorious crime boss of the Balanchine Chocolate, who is dead. When her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the chocolate, everyone seems to blame her. Anya is then faced by her absurd family, the reporters, and the people in her school.

    I was obsessed with this novel. The author's voice is so incredible, you can't seem to leave the world. 

   I especially enjoyed how the narrator (Anya) would say the events in present-time, this especially caused us to feel what she's feeling, and to imagine the world of this novel coming to life.

   When I found out that this took place in the near future, (2083) I found myself thinking to be the same age as Anya's grandmother, Galina. The way she said OMG and nobody knew what it meant, it was hilarious and incredible to see how the author imagines this world, and how ours might change unbelievably. 

   Anya is a true rebellion heroine. She was strong, slick, and super-intelligent, I wish that I knew her personally. She came to her senses when it was time, and knew right from wrong. All she cares is about saving her family, she's like the role model that many people should take after in this world we have today.

  Then we Leo, Natty, Scarlet, and of course, Galina. These guys really made an impact on this novel, they were who Anya had to save, who was worth living for. 

   Last but not least, Win. We obviously knew that with his flirty personality, he would definitely end up with Anya, eventually. I loved him! He was always there for his gal, holding her hair when she was sick, or taking her to the prom. 

  I loved this book so much, and I can't wait for the sequel. Powerfully gorgeous.

Breathless, by Jessica Warman

Title: Breathless

Author: Jessica Warman

Rating: 4.5/5

Release Date: August 31, 2010

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Average Rating: 3.64

Age Group: 13+





Quote:

“You know, I believe that people need to find what they love to do most in the world, what they're best at, and then they need to use that ability to make the world better.”

 
   After reading Warman's Where The Truth Lies, I knew I wanted more from the extraordinary author, and look what I got!

   Breathless was one of those books that actually literally took your breath away, adding to the title. I never wanted it to end, despite its thrilling, tragic plot.

   Katie Kitrell doesn't have the easiest life around. She hardly sees her dad, also known as "The Ghost," her brother is mentally sick, and now, she's sent to a boarding school where things can't get possibly worse. instead, they get even better. Katie is now known as the star swimmer, fighting for the captain. Meeting Drew, the boys' team captain, her days really make her feel breathless.

   This book really couldn't possibly get any better than it was. I mean, a few tweaks could've been taken away, or added, but that's really about it.

   I couldn't drop this novel down. I wanted to be in this world forever, even though it's exactly the same as ours, the events are fictional, right? Apparently, they're actually based on the author's experiences.. Hmm...

   Katie was a strong female lead, and a good one, for that matter. That girl was unstoppable. I loved how the author made her realize something in the end, and how we got to see what happened ten years later, it was so unexpected.

  Drew was one heartthrob, that's for sure. You really hardly get to read about swimmers these days, and the star couple in this story was a perfect example to show that more authors should feature them, instead of cheerleaders, football players, or soccer players.

  This story is unique, and definitely one to remember.