ARC Review: Me Since You by Laura Wiess

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

Title: Me Since You
Author: Laura Wiess
Series: None
Publisher: MTV Books
Publication date: February 18th

Rating: Undecided between 4.5 and 5.

Thoughts:

Me Since You is an incredibly sad book. This is not a light and fluffy contemporary, and I think you've got to be in the right mood to read this. If you want to read something light and fun, don't start Me Since You. It's an incredibly emotional and powerful read, and it will make you extremely sad. As I have mentioned before, I am not someone who cries over books. That ugly sobbing that everyone seems to do because of a book? No, not for me. Me Since You brought me closer to tears than any other book. While I did not cry, my sight got blurry a couple of times because tears started welling up in my eyes. It's just about the highest praise I can give a book.

Rowan's pain and misery are described so well, are so tangible. I got swept up in her emotions and it all felt so devastatingly real. I just... I don´t have words to describe this book. I just don't. All you need to know is that it's so emotional and devastating and it will make you cry a thousand times. The pain and emotions are described so honestly, they flow off the pages and straight into your heart.

For those who did read the synopsis and are afraid: do not worry. The romance in this book doesn't take over the plot, nor is the romance that which helps Rowan heal. All too often we see books in which the romance/love interest are what makes the MC want to live on/better her life/etc. Not in Me Since You. The romance is, in fact, a very minor part of the book, purposely kept on the background. No premature 'I love you's are thrown around, there is no controlling and slightly abusive love interest. Only a very sweet boy who understands what Rowan is going through and who goves her space, enough space to let her slowly heal herself.

In all

Highly emotional and powerful, Me Since You will make you cry over and over again as you are swept up in Rowan's journey. It's the saddest book I have ever read, and it will leave you devastated.

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: August 15th 2013

Rating: 5 unquestionable stars

Thoughts:

If they wanted Adarlan's assassin, they'd get her. And Wyrd help them when she arrived.

I really wish I didn't have to review this book, because how can I put the utter brilliance and masterful plotting into words? If you haven't read this yet, fix that now. Seriously. You shall not be disappointed.

Because I can't put everything into elaborate words, I'm just going to give you a list of all the things I loved:

The characters. They were so tangible and real, so complex and flawed: it was fantastic. I couldn't help but love Celaena in all her arrogance and adore Chaol - oh, Chaol- in all his sweetness. I've always preferred Chaol over Dorian, but YOU GUYS. He was made of awesome in this book. And I actually kind of liked Dorian as well. I don't know why, but I just disliked him in Throne of Glass. His character really comes into power in this book, and of course, there were plot twists and surprises and losses that made him a much stronger character - actually, it made every character much stronger.

The plotting. Magnificent. Maas really went crazy with the plot and I love it. The twists were well placed and had me gasping. I guess I should have seen some of them coming, but I never did. I always figured out what was going on at the exact same time Celaena did, so props for that! And oh, guys, there was a certain twist that I did NOT see coming at all and I was gasping and going omg, omg, nonono. You'll recognize it when you get there. Pure brilliance, and Maas has guts. The plot was absolutely insane and big and awesome.

The writing. Maas' writing fits the book incredibly well. It has a certain regal flare to it, which is extremely appropiate as the book revolves around the events that take place in the castle. I gobbled it up.

The romance. The romance had the exact right pace: not too slow, not too quick. It was completely believable. And whenever they had an argument or anything, it wasn't just to fill the book with angst (in fact, you'll find very little of that, if not none at all), but for a real, plausible reason.

The plot. Just because it was so good that I had to mention it again.

The eerie feel to the book. Okay, it's not all that eerie, but I read a certain scene that takes place in a certain tomb on my own in the dark and I was immensely creeped out. I do not recommend doing that, as you'll probably have trouble sleeping afterward.

In all, this book was just perfection. Per-fect. Absolutely and utterly perfect. The plot was insanely good and the twists had me guessing and gasping over and over again. The characters were very real in their thoughts, flaws, and actions, and I really just want to eat this book. It was so good.

Review: Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. 

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...

Title: Dangerous Girls
Author: Abigail Haas
Series: None
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: August 1th 2013

Rating: 5 stars!

Thoughts:

Wouldn't we all look guilty, if someone searched hard enough?

Oh. My. God. This book, guys, this book. After I saw Melanie (YA Midnight Reads) raving over this, I knew I had to buy this... And boy, am I glad I did! After that ending, I had a complete breakdown, let me tell you!'

Dangerous Girls tells its story in an unique way: the narrative flips from 'before' to 'after' to 'the trial' to... you get the idea. We see little pieces of the story in one big build-up to the final verdict... and a  little piece after it. Haas handled this style masterfully: I was never confused what had happened when, and although the scenes are generally short, they provide plenty of information. It also is really pleasing to read when you have a hard time focussing on a book or are in a hurry but want to read for a bit. I was afraid it would be too short and jumpy for me, but I found myself really enjoying the style and marvelling at Haas' talent!

The characters are those characters you love to hate... I disliked every single one of them, except Elise (more on that later) and Anna (half of the time). I thought the dynamics in this group of friends resembled reality quite well. And Mel! I totally recognized one of my former 'friends' in her. (Although I must say that we get along fine now that we're no longer in the same circles!) Her clingy behaviour was EXACTLY like how it was then... So props, Haas, for making it realistic! And then there's Elise... Everyone I know who has read Dangerous Girls hated her, and I'm quite sure that everyone who is going to read it will hate her as well. Of course, I am the odd one out! I really liked her character, even though she was a complete and utter bitch. She's that stereotyped slutty girlfriend, but there was something different about her, so I didn't mind at all (maybe it was that she was dead, haha). She was... fascinating, really. I really liked her!

This book also does something unique with its romance: instead of seeing a girl fall in love, we see her falling out of love. Although the story is mostly focused on Elise's murder and Anna's trial, we got to see quite a bit of the romance between Tate and Anna. Throughout the novel, Anna's feelings for Tate seem to ebb away, and it's done in a believable way. Although I disliked Tate from the start, I could feel myself falling out of love with him right along with Anna. Does that make sense? Probably not.

Another thing handled really well: the way you suspect everyone. Like, literally everyone. At first, I was like: Yeah, it's totally them. No wait, it's them. No wait! It's THEM, I'm sure. And then the ending happened. THE FREAKING ENDING. Oh my God, it was totally awesome! I actually had a little breakdown (I kept yelling on the internet in all caps and saying "Oh my God. Oh my God."!). Hehe. Yeah, that ending is so confusing and you just want to laugh like a maniac and maybe cry and keep saying "Oh my God". Trust me. Just read this and you'll know what I'm talking about!

In all, this was a wonderfully crafted novel with characters you're going to love to hate, a reverse romance, the feeling that everyone's guilty, and THAT ENDING. Read this, I swear you won't regret it!

Review: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

New York Times  bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. 

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop. So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company. She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

ARC Review: All Our Yesterdays by Christin Terrill

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn't happened yet. Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other's anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There's no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It's from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that's about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future.

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance. Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury. Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point

Author: Kasie West

Series: Pivot Point, #1

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: February 12th 2013

Source: Bought

Description: Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Outcast

Outcast by Adrienne Kress
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you, Diversion Books, for gifting me an ARC. No money or favours were exchanged to alter this review.

4.5 stars

So, I went into this with pretty low expectations. I don't know why, but I did. Maybe because of the cover, which isn't really my style. Maybe because this was 'just another angel book' (in my opinion). Well, I was wrong. Because I loved this. Loved loved loved this. Oh yeah, and I shall explain why too.

So, there's this little town in which every year, angels come down from the sky and take people. Almost everyone in this town thinks, especially thanks to Pastor Warren, that this is a blessing and it's great and special and wow. Not Riley. Her best friend/boyfriend Chris was taken, and the next year she shoots an angel in the face.

Yup. That makes for a pretty strong start, doesn't it? So, she shoots this angel thing, but instead of dying it transforms into a very naked boy. Unsure what to do, she ties him up and tries to question him, but there's a little problem: he thinks it's 1956.

I'll start of with the only thing I didn't love: the writing. Now, it wasn't bad. Not at all. But I felt like it was a Diesel. It needed to warm up first. In the beginning of the book the prose is a bit scraped together, sometimes even a bit stream-of-consciousness like. However, later on it got it's act together and became steady and enjoyable.

The characters were great. Riley isn't a Mary Sue; she's not the ooh-I'm-little-miss-perfect-but-I-don't-realise-it character. Or the character that's basically perfect except she's CLUMSY. Woo (Bella Swan, anyone?). Nope, she's a real person, flawed too, but she realises her mistakes and tries to better them. Yes! I loved her since the first page, since she shot an angel and kept loving her until the book ended.

The other characters were real persons too. And I LOVED LOVED LOVED how Riley and "mean cheerleadergirl" Lacy actually became good friends. Yes!! I can't really explain how happy I am about that. Yes, yes, yes! Mean girls with depth!

And the plot. Oh, the plot. It's so refreshing to read a book again that has an actual plot, and a good one at that. Yeah! So much win. And I loved how the little things were there too, how they actually had to do with the plot, and how it wasn't predictable. Refreshing, good, and I want more. There was a little hint that I immediately picked up on, but stupid me with low expectations thought: "Oh, this must be an usual ARC mistake. *snort*" It wasn't. I should have seen that coming and I didn't. What have you done to me? What have you done to me??

Then there's the romance. Once again I say, well done. I absolutely loathe insta-love and that wasn't present. It was slow-burning and not too fast and realistic. Bravo, Adrienne Kress!

And THAT ENDING. Oh shit. I'm not someone who cries over books (my emotions all stay in my head while reading), but if I was, I definitely would have. Kick-ass and so sad and NOOOOOOOOO WHY??? WHY???? I repeat, what have you done to me?

Would I recommend this? Hell yes. Put this on your to-read list. Now.

----------
Initial reaction:
Shiiiiiiiit! That was intense!

Teeth

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a novel by Hannah Moskowitz before (I know, shame on me). I kept seeing five-star ratings and glowing reviews for her books, especially Gone, Gone, Gone. I wanted to read her books, but I was hesitant buying one of them. I wanted to read an excerpt or something first, because what if I wouldn't like it? Then I'd have bought a book I hated, spent money on something I don't want. But after seeing like billions of reviews gushing over Hannah Moskowitz, I knew I had to do it. I had to buy a book written by her.

Well, it didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved Teeth. Why? Well, let me tell you...

The writing

Oh God, how I loved her writing. There's something about it that makes the story real, even if it's about magic fish. It's raw and has a way doing some sort of surprise attack. You let your attention falter for a moment.. and BAM there it is, her writing has slammed into your heart and now it's lying on the floor in little pieces.

The characters

This is were Teeth really shined for me. Her characters are so complex and flawed, so real and heartbreaking. Two lonely and broken boys, so different and so the same. I loved all of them. Teeth, oh Teeth. He's really slap-worthy at times, but I loved him. I absolutely loved him. It's a shame he isn't real. *cries*

I would like to talk about the description of the book.

Be careful what you believe in.

Rudy’s life is flipped upside-down when his family moves to a remote island in a last attempt to save his sick younger brother. With nothing to do but worry, Rudy sinks deeper and deeper into loneliness and lies awake at night listening to the screams of the ocean beneath his family’s rickety house.

Okay, so far, this is all right. But then:

Then he meets Diana, who makes him wonder what he even knows about love, and Teeth, who makes him question what he knows about anything.

I might be the only one, but I don't think this is true. He does hook up with Diana, but I didn't have the idea he was wondering about love. At all. Instead, he admits he doesn't really feel anything for her. So, in my opinion, that's not correct.

In short, I loved this. I really loved this. And yes, I am going to buy her other books too. Like soon.

Eona (Eon, #2)

Eona by Alison Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow.

Eona was everything I expected and more.

This book is freaking amazing, like, really. Honestly, I don't even know what to say about it because it's so awesome. Halfway through the book I'd already decided that this was a 5 star book, and then that ending happened. Every doubt I may have had was instantly gone.

I love the character growth! This story is about Eona, but also about what power does to you. It was very crafty. When Eona said she didn't lie much, or that it was for someone else's sake, I agreed with her. I thought, people, give this girl a break, yeah? She's right. And then someone would accuse her of lying or not telling something, I started to think and I realised they were right. But I could never hate her, or even dislike her.

What also adds to the strength of this book is the fact that no-one can really be trusted. It influences everything, including the romance. Speaking of the romance, I LIKE. It was not the main theme of the story, thank God. Lately every Young Adult book is all about twu luurve. But not Eona, and I was very grateful for that.

Also kind of major spoiler:
(view spoiler)[ I really liked the sort of love triangle. I really really hated Ido in the first book, but I loved the dark attraction between him and Eona. And that one scene was HAWT. Really, I wanted it to happen again. But Kygo is also very sweet, and in the end, I am definitely team Kygo. But still.. damn. (hide spoiler)]

This book is over 600 pages, but every page is worth it. I read it so fast, I just couldn't lay it down. And every of those pages was needed. There was never too much, and I can't think of a single page that needn't be there.

In short, I loved Eona and I recommend. Highly.

Stolen

Stolen by Lucy Christopher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful book. I absolutely loved it.

In Stolen, 16-year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to Australia.

This book isn't good because it has lots of action or so many plot twist you never saw coming. It has neither of those things. It's so good because it's a book I feel.

The story takes form of a letter written by Gemma to Ty. I didn't expect to love her, but she just creeps up on you and before you know it, you feel for her. You feel like you know her. Gemma isn't a kick-ass, look-I've-got-a-sword-and-can-fight-with-it herione, but she also isn't a whiny, save-me-and-let-me-love-you girl. She's a real teenage girl. Her feelings are real. Her thoughts are real. Her actions are real.

Then there's Ty. Oh, Ty. In the beginning of the book, I did not like him. He kidnapped Gemma, after all. That's not exactly admirable. But he isn't an evil kidnapper, not really. He's lonely, he loves Gemma, he's broken. And he grows on you. You won't like him in the beginning, but silently he grows on you, and when you realise you love him it's already too late. You can't go back. And I did love him. Just like Gemma, he's real, so real.

The writing is absolutely gorgeous. It's not gorgeous in a Laini Taylor kind of way, or a Lauren DeStefano kind of way. It's beautiful because it's honest. It makes the book all the more real.

As a reader, I'm not really emotional. Something really big has to happen for me to even raise my eyebrow, let alone to make me really feel for a book. I felt for the Unearthly series. I felt for the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. But I really felt for this.

The biggest pro of the book is just the realness and honesty of it, the way it carefully tears you apart, the way I couldn't help but love it in the end.

If you want a book with a lot of action: this isn't it. But the dynamics of Gemma and Ty's 'relationship', the writing, the landscape (Australia!), everything, it just made me keep reading.

Boundless (Unearthly, #3)

Boundless by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Cynthia Hand?


Actual rating: 4,5 stars

I absolutely love this series. I can't believe it's actually over now D:

Boundless is a stunning close to the series. For some reason, it's also extremely difficult to review.

Things I liked:

There was character growth! Clara really grows up in this novel, standing up for herself and her life. I really loved her: she's such a likeable heroine.

We also got to see more of Angela, Jeffrey, Christian and Tucker (yay!).

The plot twists. OH MY. Apart from one plot twist, they were all surprising, i-never-saw-that-coming plot twists, sometimes ripping your heart out, sometimes making you gasp. Oh my. Oh my.

Chapter 18. So sweet. I really loved it!

Things I didn't like that much:

The ending. It all felt too convenient for me, because everything for Clara and the boy she chooses is just so.. convenient. Life is never convenient.

I also didn't like how things ended for the other boy. We have no idea how he is.

And the whole purpose thing was a little vague. So she's got a divine purpose, but actually it's just a possible future? So what the hell was her purpose exactly? And Jeffrey's??

All in all, a worthy close to the Unearthly series. I can't believe it's really over now! *cries*

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2)

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"What are we fighting for? What are we killing for?

I'm just.. God, this book. This book.


Laini Taylor's writing is absolutely gorgeous. It's beautiful. It's the kind of writing that I gobble up and then I scream for more. It makes the book all the more beautiful, heartbreaking and real.

This book is fiction, but it's the first book that has made me feel war so intense. Because it's real, everything is real: the hate, the hopelessness, the smiles, the slogans.

This is the kind of book where do you do not want to be in the situation of the main character. I really felt for Karou, because she's going through a damn lot. Speaking of the characters, Zuzana is great. She's the much needed lighter note in the book, and I love Taylor for keeping her in the story. She and Mik togheter were really sweet!

I really loved all of the characters. Karou is admireable for her strength, Akiva for his hope . I also loved Liraz and Hazael.

If you do not like depressing stories, this book is not for you. Because this is one of the most depressing stories I've ever read. Laini Taylor had me rooting for the characters, made me depressed, gave me hope, shattered all of it, made me eat my heart and made me like it.

And now I have to wait until 2014 until the next book comes out?



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