In the Age of Love and Chocolate, by Gabrielle Zevin

In the Age of Love and Chocolate (Birthright #3), by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian

Other Birthright Books

Rating: 4/5 stars








Goodreads Summary: "All These Things I’ve Done, the first novel in the Birthright series, introduced us to timeless heroine Anya Balanchine, a plucky sixteen year old with the heart of a girl and the responsibilities of a grown woman. Now eighteen, life has been more bitter than sweet for Anya. She has lost her parents and her grandmother, and has spent the better part of her high school years in trouble with the law. Perhaps hardest of all, her decision to open a nightclub with her old nemesis Charles Delacroix has cost Anya her relationship with Win.

Still, it is Anya’s nature to soldier on. She puts the loss of Win behind her and focuses on her work. Against the odds, the nightclub becomes an enormous success, and Anya feels like she is on her way and that nothing will ever go wrong for her again. But after a terrible misjudgment leaves Anya fighting for her life, she is forced to reckon with her choices and to let people help her for the first time in her life. 

In the Age of Love and Chocolate is the story of growing up and learning what love really is. It showcases the best of Gabrielle Zevin’s writing for young adults: the intricate characterization of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac and the big-heartedness of Elsewhere. It will make you remember why you loved her writing in the first place."

Review:

• This was one of my favourite trilogies ever. Gabrielle Zevin has basically created perfection over here and I NEED MORE. I MEAN MORE GABRIELLE ZEVIN. Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac are on my top to-read list. 
• The ending of this one was okay, a little emotional but good overall. I wish the whole book itself would've been stronger, but it was enjoyable and likeable. 

Hollow City, by Ransom Riggs

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2), by Ransom Riggs

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars











Goodreads Summary: "The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London the peculiar capital of the world. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reacting experience."


Review:

• First things first- the first novel was better. I wish that the author would've sticked with one book, in my opinion, it would've been better that way. This one wasn't as powerful and as good as I thought it will be, but of course, the photos were peculiar and the events weren't so uninteresting.
• I wish that the author explained what had happened in the end of the previous novel. I read a lot and don't always get the whole recap of what happened, I would've liked that.
• This was great, and of course will read on to the third novel for more romance and peculiarness. :)

Deadly, by Sara Shepard

Deadly, (Pretty Little Liars # 14), by Sara Shepard

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery

Rating: 4.5/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "Deadly, the fourteenth volume in Sara Shepard's YA Pretty Little Liars series, delivers more juicy scandals, dark secrets, and shocking plot twists. This #1 New York Times bestselling series is also a hit ABC Family original TV show.

High school seniors Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have all done horrible things—things that would put them behind bars if anyone ever found out. And their stalker "A" knows everything.

So far A has kept their secrets, using them to torture the girls. But now A's changed the game. Suddenly the girls are hauled in for questioning, and all their worlds begin to unravel. If A's plan succeeds, Rosewood's pretty little liars will be locked away for good. . . ."

Review:

• I just get a little frustrated with this series because it never ends. That's basically my only problem. This book was amazing and I can't wait for the finale, whenever that will be. -.-

Endure, by Carrie Jones

Endure, (Need # 4) by Carrie Jones

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance

Other Need Books

Rating: 3/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers."

Review:

• This definitely wasn't the best of the series. I thought that it was okay but still could've been much better. I wanted it to be enjoyable and interesting, but I really didn't get much of that except for some of the romance. The truth is, I really wanted the series to end as soon as possible but I still wanted to see what would happen. The romance in this one was strong and it answered all of my questions. Overall, the series was okay and not bad.

Entice, by Carrie Jones

Entice (Need #3), by Carrie Jones

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Faeries, Paranormal Romance

Other Need Books

Rating: 3/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen."


Review:

• This series just keeps on having the same outcome every time. I really don't expect better each time. I will finish the series because I do want to know what will happen. 
• I really thought that this one could've been more stronger. I wanted to like it much more than I did.
• The only really interesting part was when Zara went to Scotland. The way she described the atmosphere was gorgeous. 

Captivate, by Carrie Jones

Captivate (Need #2), by Carrie Jones

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Faeries

Other Need Books

Rating: 3/5 stars











Goodreads Summary: "Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did - sort of. The pixie's are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when they very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined..."

Review:

• Now I found that this series is getting a little too boring, and you know, I don't like to get bored much.
• I found that the pixie thing is too repetitive. Every single sentence almost has the word "pixie" in it. Ugh.
• I liked this, don't get me wrong, I'll continue to read the rest of the series- it's just that I don't want to be basically kicked out of the series because that's what the author is making me do. I really want to continue to enjoy reading this series and hopefully, I will.

Need, by Carrie Jones

Need (Need #1), by Carrie Jones

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Faeries, Paranormal Romance

Other Need Books

Rating: 4/5 stars












Goodreads Summary: "Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear."

Review:

• I needed a good paranormal novel, and I finally got it. I've lately been also reading about faeries, and I didn't seem to like them and I thought that that would be the end of my faery reading, but it wasn't. Need was really good.
• I love the whole phobia obsession thing. It's absolutely brilliant.
• Zara was a great character who was confident and knew what she wanted to do. She was smart and wise. 
• I really liked this one and am currently continuing on with the rest of the series!

Hollywood Hills, by Aimee Friedman

Hollywood Hills (Alexa & Holly #3), by Aimee Friedman

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Chick-lit

Other Alexa & Holly Books

Rating: 4/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "Get your drama on as the girls from New York Times bestseller SOUTH BEACH and its sexy sequel, FRENCH KISS, strut back into the limelight in another sizzling tale of romance, friendship, and crushes.

Celebrity sightings. Sizzling nightlife. Endless shopping.

Hollywood, here they come...

Alexa: She's stopped believing in love at first sight....but can a Hollywood heartbreaker make her look twice? 

Holly: When a collision with destiny pulls her heart in two directions, which path will she choose? Either way, this trip will change everything.

With one week to go before graduation, Alexa and Holly take off on a whirlwind trip to L.A. Can they handle the drama?"

Review:

• This was the second best out of the trilogy. I liked it overall, but I felt that something was missing. How could Holly's parents suddenly be so AWOL and how could they not be strict at all? Remember the first book? Now, that was hectic.
• Hollywood was a nice place to have the setting go through. We find that not a lot of books have that "setting," without the characters being some sort of movie star or pop star.
• I'm sad to see this trilogy go, but three books is the perfect ending.

French Kiss, by Aimee Friedman

French Kiss (Alexa & Holly #2), by Aimee Friedman

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Chick-lit

Other Alexa & Holly Books

Rating: 3.5/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "Get your drama on as the girls from the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller, SOUTH BEACH, strut back into the limelight in another sizzling spring break tale of romance, friendship, and crushes gone bad.

Two beautiful girls. One sexy city. 

Endless opportunities for l'amour.

When ALEXA ST. LAURENT falls in love, she falls hard. Can she keep her cool after meeting a French guy who's too good to be true and too hard to resist?

For HOLLY JACOBSON, being in love with her boyfriend, Tyler, is as natural as breathing. But there's no denying that Alexa's Parisian cousin Pierre takes Holly's breath away....

On a whirlwind rendezvous in Paris, the City of Love, Alexa and Holly are about to discover that everything sounds sexier in French. "

Review:

• I have to say, after reading all three books in the trilogy in a day, I think that this was the worst one. It was by far the most cheesiest and boring out of the three, not that it was bad. I thought that it overall was okay, but you know, could've been better.
• First of all, PARIS? Couldn't they have gone somewhere more unique and different? Paris is a beautiful city, don't get me wrong, but I find that it's too much captured by the media these days and that other places, such as South Beach, really isn't. I liked the first novel even because of the location they went to. It was different and.. nice. 
• I know that the author wanted Pierre, Alexa's cousin in the book, but maybe she could've done it in some surprising way? And Alexa is from France, which makes it even more all about her. :/
• As the usual, the characters were great, but the whole setting wasn't.

South Beach, by Aimee Friedman

South Beach (Alexa & Holly #1), by Aimee Friedman

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Chick-lit

Other Alexa & Holly Books

Rating: 4.5/5 stars










Goodreads Summary: "HOT SAND. HOT CLUBS. HOT GUYS.

What more could two girls want? Try the same guy.

SPRING BREAK. SOUTH BEACH. 'NUFF SAID.

On a trip to a place where anything can happen -- and does -- two ex-best friends discover that a chance encounter can lead to the chance of a lifetime.

HOLLY: Dream date or bad fate? She wants true love--and a break from her strict parents. Perhaps a spring fling will do?

ALEXA: Flirting with destiny or flirting with disaster? The guy of her dreams turns out to be her friend's first love. How far is she willing to go?

This year, Spring Break is going to be scandalous!"

Review:

• I really expected the worst with this series- it really sounded cheesy and probably would have been repetitive often. I actually found it to be really good- fun and the perfect summer read, but you know, I was sitting here in the cold, gloomy sparks of the winter, what could I say!
• I read some good reviews and some bad reviews on this one, and I didn't know who to trust. The Goodreads Average Rating is pretty high and average. Aimee Friedman really created a fun book, I don't know why the whole trilogy has been sitting in my shelf for so long!
• I had so much fun with this book, both Alexa and Holly were great characters who were complete opposites, although Holly did get on my nerves sometimes.