North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley review

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

From Goodreads

Terra Cooper is the youngest child (and only daughter) of a former world-famous cartographer. Now the laughing stock of the cartographic world, her father takes his personal anguish out on everyone in his life. Terra has always been a blight in his world because of the port wine birthmark that covers a good majority of her face. Disallowing her from making her own choices in her life has simply made Terra's choices easier. Just as her two older brothers have done she intends to leave their home & never look back. That is until she literally runs into Jacob on her way back from a procedure on her face. He sees her for who she really is & who she can be & helps to inspire her to look beyond what she's carefully laid out in her life.

Justina Chen Headley deserves a big hats-off for this phenomenal book about accepting & creating yourself. Terra is such a versatile character. While she's pretty, with a popular boyfriend & decent grades, she's also introverted, artistic & self-conscious. She is every teen girl wrapped into one. I found her very appealing & sympathetic. Watching her grow & become inspired/learn from others' mistakes around her was such a thrilling part of the book.

Jacob adds a twist in the tale as the devil's advocate to almost everything Terra says & does. He's always pushing her, but at the same time allowing her to do things herself. He is also a different facet of what Terra could be. Jacob has encountered some of the same issues that Terra currently faces & he proves to her that there is a different way to handle the situation.

There is a lot of character development & cartographic references that might not appeal to all readers, but I really enjoyed those parts. Justina seems to have a knack for allowing a story to flow while still giving it a needed structure. While I felt like I wanted to know more about some of the peripheral characters, I realized that it would have detracted from the overall story. So if you're looking for an inspiring, realistic fiction you can't do any better than this book.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley review

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

No one could possibly feel more like a circus-performing animal than Ashlyn. She may be a very talented musical composer, with Hollywood aspirations, but she's shackled in her father's gilded world. She is beyond frustrated & wants to do something wild & forbidden just to prove her point that not everything is a threat. Unfortunately because of one teeny, tiny kidnapping incident when she was a child, her father has forced her to keep a "companion" (bodyguard) with her whenever she leaves the house.

The last companion was fired for getting too "comfortable" with Ashlyn & her father knows just how to fix that. He hires Colin, a childhood "friend" a few years older than Ashlyn as her companion in the hopes of allowing her to feel less constricted. To Ashlyn, Colin is anything but a friend. As children he mercilessly teased & tormented her. Now that he's back in her life, she's quite terrified of him, but in a different way. Now she's terrified of what she's capable of since every time she feels him close to her she wants to do things that she has only read about in her romance novels.

Can she really trust herself with Colin & if it comes down to it, will he protect her no matter the cost?

So...this book really gives everything away on the back cover. Other than the minor details surrounding her amazing musical talents, this really is a cut & dry "star-crossed lovers" story. Now don't get me wrong, Colin is definitely dreamy & I really liked his & Ashlyn's interactions. Everything was just too perfect for me throughout the novel though. Everything was so convenient & just happened to play out just right for this story to unfold. There was a sense of improbability that I just couldn't shake. So many things defied my capacity for suspending belief in what is supposed to be a realistic fiction (maybe just a romance?). I guess in the end it was just too put together for me.

The author's writing is right on the mark & she really has a way of capturing the essence of the music such that I've not truly experienced before in book form. That would have to be what salvaged the book for me, I could only suspend my realism so much, but the writing was well crafted. I look forward to more books by this author.

ARC graciously provided by Around the World Tours

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Life can be lived a thousand different ways over the course of a summer. No one knows the truth of that more than Chase McGill. His family has spent every summer of his childhood at their beach house. We meet the family during Chase’s 14th summer and his family is as such: Noah, the eldest son, is constantly on the run from everything he never wants to face. Chase really should have been the eldest son as he takes primary responsibility for the care of the younger siblings. Claudia is a young girl dying to be a grown woman who spends a predominant amount of time signing for Gideon, the rambunctious deaf fourth child. Mom & Dad are constantly bickering, despite the soon arrival of Newbaby.

Over the course of four summers spanning Chase’s 15-18th birthdays, we watch this family change, grow, break apart, reform & interact with their next-door neighbors the Hathaways. The three children in the Hathaway household actually interject depth to this family. Melinda brings Camus, Shannon brings the hope of the future, & Bella is sweet innocence. What becomes of these summers is something unexpected & raw that you must read to believe.

That was one roller coaster ride of a book. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading Invincible Summer. There were so many things going on, especially in regards to relationships, that I am truly amazed that I didn’t need a flow chart to follow it all. This book is very complicated, but in a good way. The actions & events of this book really challenge your perception of time. They allow you to view the progression of relationships (marital, romantic, friendships, etc) as they evolve over time based on the participants’ maturity level & what is going on in their lives.

Chase is the narrator of this story & we see everyone through his eyes. In a way this can cause some bias in how the other characters are viewed because we never really get to hear their side of the story; but at the same time, Chase’s point of view about these characters changes as he discovers more about them over time. I believe that each of the McGill children represents a certain characteristic or pattern of behavior that we all experience at some point in our lives. They embodied those different entities in their entirety.

I must say that this book is not for the faint of heart. There is A LOT of cussing in this book. I was amused when I realized how annoying a habit it is to use a curse word every other sentence in real life. Also, while not usually a fan of books with a strong literary basis (meaning the heavy use of a piece of literature inside the novel itself) I really enjoyed the Camus quotes throughout the book. There was a quote for most difficult situations & even for some of the lighter ones & I found that to be really refreshing. I strongly recommend this for those who enjoy time-centric books & a plethora of intense, but gratifying interactions.

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Nostalgic Friday: The Whipping Boy

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I have uncovered a book that I had completely forgotten about! The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman was originally published in 1986. This is a fabulous book for both guys and gals that involves adventure, fairness, and even a prince.

Jemmy is the Whipping Boy for Prince Horace. Whenever the Prince does something naughty, Jemmy is the one who must take the punishment for the Prince's actions. Tired of being beaten repeatedly for things he didn't do, Jemmy has decided to run away. With the basic education he has obtained while living in the castle, he's determined to set off for a new life with the freedoms he once enjoyed.

Unfortunately,the Prince has the same idea. Dragging Jemmy along as his servant, the Prince and Jemmy set off. It is not long before they are intercepted by dangerous highway criminals Hold-Your-Nose Billy & Cutwater. The highwaymen want to ransom the Prince back to the castle. Seeing an opportunity for escape, Jemmy claims that he is the Prince. After a clever trick, the boys are free again and continue on their journey.

Of course their freedom only lasts until the highwaymen catch up with them again. Still believing Jemmy to be the Prince, and knowing it to be a crime to harm him, they determine Horace to be the Whipping Boy and beat him instead. Beginning to understand the reality of Jemmy's existence, Horace's character shifts. Soon he is working with Jemmy to get them back to the castle to have the whole situation sorted out. But there are people out there who want the reward that has been posted and the boys must find a way to make it back without being captured again.

This is a fun, educational story. You don't really know that you're learning a moral lesson until you get to the end and put all the pieces together. Jemmy is a wonderful character with such values and standards that one has a tough time reconciling him with the awful child that is Horace. Obviously in this story, money and breeding do not necessary make the most conscientious minded people. The dichotomy between these two boys was staggering and it really helped put the moral in perspective.

The setting really allowed the story to flow easily and the plot moved quickly. This short novel packs a lot of action, intrigue, and fun into just 112 pages. A must-read for all ages, The Whipping Boy is simply fabulous!

Nostalgic Friday: The Whipping Boy

La Première Gorgée de bière et autres plaisirs minuscules by Philippe Delerm

Today we're going to go a little left field with the post. As I have mentioned, I studied French in college and even managed to spend a semester in France. One of the many reasons I love the French language so much is because of their literature. Who could forget classics like Les trois mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers) or 20,000 Lieues sous la mer (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)? I love to read both versions of these stories to catch the little cultural innuendo that can often be over-looked due to poor translation and editing. Today though, I am discussing a more contemporary book that is more like short stories.

Do you remember what that first sip of beer tastes like? Or how about how green beans crunch when you snap them? La Première Gorgée de bière et autres plaisirs minuscules by Philippe Delerm was originally written in 1997, but I have a feeling that it will never fall out of favor with most people. Everyone can find at least one story in this little book that they can relate to and that will bring a smile to their face from a distant memory.

Delerm goes on to tell tales about when life was simpler and more enjoyable. There are no blaring electronics, no hustle and bustle; there's just life, in its purest form. At times we all say we need to just "get away from it all" and "unplug." This book is your way to do that without ever having to leave. While I think the translation loses something that can only be captured by the original French, the book is nevertheless a fabulous way to enjoy a nice afternoon.

Check your local libraries or bookstores for this gem. You won't regret it.

La Première Gorgée de bière et autres plaisirs minuscules by Philippe Delerm

Waiting on Wednesday: Enchanted Ivy

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spin.

This week I am uber-excited to be featuring Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst, which is set to arrive October 12th. This isn't her first novel, but it is definitely the first one of hers that has really gotten my attention. With a blurb like this, what's not to like?

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

From Goodreads

Seriously?! An alternate/sketchy reality version of the fourth oldest college in the US just sounds amazing. I have always loved looking at postcards of those older campuses because they are very representative of the time in which they were constructed. Back to Lily though, I am stoked about her story. I really want to get to know why it is so important to her to attend Princeton and what her guard is all about. So exciting! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Enchanted Ivy

Nostalgic Friday: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by British comedienne Louise Rennison is by far one of the most hilarious books ever! Originally published in 1999, this became (IMHO) one of the best written and most amusing teen series of the early 2000s.

In the first installment of this ten part series (that's still being written) we meet the lovely and flamboyant Georgia Nicolson. This 14-year-old has taken to recording her life's moments in the old tradition of a journal. With a little sister with bladder control issues, a gigantic cat capable of disastrous things, and those crazy lovable people she's forced to live with (her parents), Georgia's life is certainly never dull.

And then he shows up in her life. The Sex God. He's smooth and sweet and just the right amount of shady. Totally gorgeous, Georgia naturally finds herself lusting after him. Although her friends are not making her infatuation easy to hide. Between friends quarreling and her best friend Jas being sick, Georgia has got her work cut out for her.

This book is made of win if for no other reason than it has a glossary of British terminology in the back since the series is set in Britain. Louise gives Georgia such a personality that I think it would be difficult for any reader to resist her charms. Georgia goes through all sorts of awkward stages during the course of the book series and I'm pretty sure that everyone can relate to at least one situation. I kind of prefer the daydream scene with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. :D

Witty, amusing, and never dull, this series is sure to blow your socks off!

Nostalgic Friday: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Ellie Spencer is a mostly typical teenager. After her mother's cancer battle, her parents have left her in Mansfield Boarding School while they traipse around Europe. Ellie is taller than most girls and carries a little extra weight, making it possible for her to float around unnoticed by most of the human population. With asexual guy friends like Kevin and a keen interest in the Classics, what more could a girl ask for?

Ellie never expected that a chance run-in with her crush, the mysteriously brooding Mark, and working on a play at the local university would change everything as she knows it. There is something dark and foreboding in the mist around the schools and it may have something to do with people turning up dead. What's a girl to do?

Well. That was different. Guardian of the Dead had a lot of potential. Using New Zealand as a setting is completely out of the norm and totally awesome! I really enjoyed catching glimpses of everyday life & there was definitely a large focus on the cultural history & mythology of the Māori people. Ellie, Kevin, & Mark were very fascinating characters with quite a few dimensions. Ellie was an especially fabulous character because she wasn't a traditional female lead. She had self-image issues, but they weren't the entire focus of her being while still maintaining a form of self-confidence. I feel most girls can relate to this balance.

As I stated though, this book had potential. There was just so much going on in this book. Between self-assessment from Ellie, her relationships with the males, the murderer, the Māori history/culture, and more, I found myself struggling to keep up with everything. It seemed like once I got settled into the explanation of something, we were already moving on to the next thing that needed to be explained. A few points, mostly the "romance," felt constrained and unnatural. This book would have really benefited from being broken into two pieces.

As it stands, Guardian of the Dead was alright. For me, it's really something I could take or leave. If there was nothing compelling me to read it, I feel like I would pass it by. The cover and jacket description look & sound great, but I feel like it failed to deliver what was promised.

Graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Waiting on Wednesday: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2)

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am super excited to think about the September 1st arrival of Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2) by Simone Elkeles. You may remember how much I liked Leaving Paradise and so you can understand my enthusiasm for the follow up story. Obviously MAJOR SPOILERS for the first book follow in the summary below for the second book. You've been warned.

Maggie and Caleb just went through the worst year of their lives. Hit by a car and starting life over with a limp, Maggie never thought she would forgive Caleb. But she did-and fell in love. What they shared was real. But Caleb wanted to be free from the past-and a terrible secret: he wasn't the one who hit Maggie. So he left Paradise-and Maggie-forever.

When Maggie and Caleb run into each other in a different town, they can't deny their true feelings. Will Maggie let Caleb get away again? Or will Caleb face the truth and return to Paradise?

From Goodreads

Whoa. That's all I really have for that one. The first book was so heart-wrenching and emotionally-charged that I don't think this one can disappoint. I am practically drooling in anticipation. What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2)

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Lou Bertignac is super-duper smart. So smart, that she skipped two grades and is a veritable pariah. Her social skills are deeply lacking due to her overactive thought process and easy ability to get lost in a daydream of thought. Despite being petrified of public speaking, her professor has demanded her subject for her oral presentation. Lou mumbles something about homelessness and is off the hook. That is until she meets No.

No is a tough-as-nails street girl who took a liking to Lou. the girls begin to meet up on a regular basis to discuss the intricacies of being a young, homeless girl. No bounces between being defensive and overly-emotional as quickly as she bounces from the soup kitchen to a friend's couch. After watching her go through this, and after the presentation is done, Lou invites No to come live with Lou's family.

The girls learn a lot about many different things, but most importantly they learn about themselves. When No's past comes back to grab her, it will take all the girls have in common, and even the things that make them different, to keep her from slipping back into oblivion. With the help of trust school hunk Lucas, Lou & No just might be able to make both their hopes into reality.

Such a powerful novel! Delphine de Vigan has earned her awards for this little gem (Prix des Libraires 2008, Révélation Roman 2007 & Prix Littéraire du Rotary). There is such emotion and force behind not only the subject matter, but the characters. These girls feel so real to me. Lou was impeccably precocious and overly-intelligent for her age, and yet she maintained a sort of innocence. No was incredibly tragic, but stoic at the same time. She wanted to be able to trust someone enough to just let go, but her need for control made that very difficult.

This book was different from some other realistic fiction books that I've read primarily because it is French. As some of you may or may not know, my undergrad degree is in French & International Studies and I studied abroad in Angers, France for a semester. My love of the language, people, and culture is something that I carry with me every day and this book just took to my heart. Homelessness is a very large problem in France and what this book did was take a taboo subject and bring it to the forefront. Mme de Vigan is poetic and unafraid to tackle difficult subject matter. For that I say "Bravo." If your French is a little rusty, don't fret, this fantastic book is coming stateside in early August. Be sure to check it out! I leave you with a small snippet of Mme de Vigan's poetic words.

"And our silence is filled with all the world's impotence. Our silence is like the return to the origin of things, their true state." p.51 of the uncorrected advance proof.

Thanks to Around the World Tours for the opportunity to read this fabulous book!

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Paper Towns by John Green

Margo Roth Spiegelman has always been an unknown quantity ever since she was a child. Her quirky behavior and reclusive, yet outlandish, actions have always made her quite a character to behold. Quentin Jacobsen has lived next door to her all their lives and as children they were quite close. As they grew up though, they grew apart with Quentin focusing on his studies and Margo doing whatever she wanted to do.

One night, a few days before graduation, Margo shows up at Quentin's window and begs him to come on a night of revengeful adventure with her. Reluctantly he agrees, mostly because he's intrigued. They spend all night pulling pranks and getting back at people who made Margo's "hit list." In the morning, Quentin realizes the feelings he had for her at a younger child have now matured and he is enamored. To his dismay, and worry, it turns out the next morning that Margo has disappeared.

Quentin sets out on a journey to find the girl he loves with a rag tag team of geeks and clues that she seems to have left specifically for him.

After the first read, I despised this book. There is such a focus on the poem "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman, which Margo used as a clue, that I felt like I was back in college dissecting works of literature for every minute detail.

Then I went back and read it again and then one more time. And the more I read it the more I like it. I think I was so focused the first time on figuring out what happened to Margo, that I ignored the more nuanced action. There was so much more going on with the characters that I overlooked while analyzing the poem and other clues. I realized I was acting almost exactly like Quentin in the book. He was so obsessed with piecing the puzzle together, that he missed the whole point of the exercise. Talk about ingenious!

I really enjoyed watching the characters grow and learn to appreciate everything around them. Margo was definitely a "carpe diem" kind of gal and I found that both refreshing and frustrating. She was very "in your face" about her actions, while sometimes I questioned her motives. Eventually her reasoning was revealed and that made it much easier to handle on a re-read. Quentin on the other hand went the other way. He went from being the geeky, quiet guy to a parent-ignoring, blowing-off-of-graduation kind of guy. Margo really managed to shake his core.

Truly, I am on-board now with those who says this is a great book. If you haven't already, give this book a chance. I would consider myself proof that it's worth it.

Paper Towns by John Green

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

"The Beast" is just one of the most common of horrible nicknames that Beth has grown up hearing. With frizzy hair, "coke-bottle" glasses, & disfiguring acne scars stacked on top of her tall frame, Beth has never stood a chance against bullies. She has learned to deal with her unfortunate circumstances rather than try to overcome them. All of that changed when she stepped forward to take over a soprano solo in her competitive show choir.

After having her hair chopped, straightened & colored, having lots of places waxed, & a complete wardrobe makeover, "The Beast" is now just Beth. She's quite good-looking and has started turning heads in a good way. Too bad the only person who noticed her in a good way before the transformation is now repulsed by her actions. Scott has always been such a great friend to Beth, that she just doesn't understand why he wouldn't want her to be happy. It's her ultimate goal to get him to understand, until Derek starts schmoozing his way into the picture. With a voice like silk and a bad boy repertoire, he's just the kind of guy that Beth is looking for to go with her new look. But, who really cares about her? The boy who always cared or the one who cares now?

I really wanted to like this book. I really did. I was hoping that it would be a lot like Taken By Storm which was quite well-written & overall enjoyable. This one just flatlined part of the way through the book. Beth could have been a likable character if it weren't for her utter lack of a spine. I understand that there are bullies who exist and that they are cruel, but what some of these kids do to Beth is assault, not just teasing. There are many other instances that are just beyond belief for me in this novel and while I understand that sometimes the suspension of our own reality is necessary, I refuse to believe that the situations in this book are so common.

Most of the characters were so stereotypical it was annoying. I found I could practically predict what action the characters would take or what phrase they would use. Even the storyline was flat. Ugly girl becomes pretty girl and chases after bad boy, when good boy has been there all along. There wasn't even a twist on this tale. In all honesty, and as much as it pains me to say this, this book wasn't worth it. There was no silver lining and the book does not redeem itself at the end. If you want a plain, obvious story, this is it, but if you prefer something with any kind of creativity, you'll want to pass.

Book provided by Around the World Tours.

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

Waiting on Wednesday: Take Me There

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I'm quite intrigued by my pick this week. Take Me There by Carolee Dean is set to be released on July 20th from Simon Pulse. As we all know I'm a sucker for a good realistic fiction, so the subject matter comes as no surprise, but the execution is what has piqued my interest.

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

From Goodreads

So the story goes from a standard "Romeo & Juliet" complex to a "death-mystery" complex. I really like the sound of this book. I'm becoming especially fond of reading books from a guy's perspective. Considering I have never been in a guy's mind, it kind of gives me an insight into the different ways people can view events and situations. Hopefully this one won't disappoint! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Take Me There

Party by Tom Leveen

This was a complicated, interwoven storyline. So that I don't giveaway too much, I'm using the book jacket summary.

It's Saturday night in Santa Barbara and school is done for the year. Everyone is headed to the same party. Or at least it seems that way. The place is packed. The beer is flowing. Simple, right? But for 11 different people the motives are way more complicated. As each character takes a turn and tells his or her story, the eleven individuals intersect, and reconnect, collide, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

From Goodreads

Whew, that was so much safer than what I originally had written. Party was a fascinating novel. It is told in first person, based on the chapter narrator. There are eleven narrators all giving partial glimpses at this one night. When you piece all their stories together you obtain one cohesive time line of events. Each of these kids represents almost the whole gamut of the teenage years. The parental arguments, the sense of loss, the shyness, the awkwardness, the break-ups, the make-ups, the hook-ups, and everything in between. These eleven kids experience it all in hyperdrive at this one party.

While each character only gets one chapter, I felt like they didn't waste any time getting to the heart of their personalities and issues. You knew from the beginning what was going on in their lives and what their personal focus would be. Even better, are the vignettes we glean from earlier chapters. By the final chapter we have come full circle and see the complete night as a whole.

I think most people can find at least one character they can relate to in this book, whether it's the loner girl with a secret, the uber-responsible friend, the devoutly spiritual, or the conflicted jock. There are attributes in each of them that appeal to the reader in some manner. I personally identified with the responsible friend, although I never attended a party in high school (lame, I know). While not a light, happy read, if you're a fan of no-holds-barred, realistic fiction (along the lines of Going Too Far) then this book is perfectly suited for your tastes.

This book was graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Party by Tom Leveen

Waiting on Wednesday: Forget You

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am desperately awaiting the July 20th arrival of Forget You by Jennifer Echols. I fell in love with Going Too Far recently and have been on the lookout for her other books. I mean, just read the summary of this one:

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

-From Goodreads

Really?! What the holy-cow-craziness?! In a way this reminds me of two of Simone Elkeles's books: Leaving Paradise and Perfect Chemistry. This book seems to be filled with mystery, intrigue, love, loss, and hope. I absolutely ADORED Jennifer Echols's other book Going Too Far and I am hoping that this one will live up to my hopes. So what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Forget You

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Blue-haired, girl-felon seeks hard-working, semi-stable cop. Wait, huh? Meg is just your typical teenage rebellion with a wild side a mile long and more arrests and tickets than any parent wants to believe. Her bad attitude and outlandish hair keep everyone at bay so she can have some peace. Doing what she wants, as she sees fit, is just part of life to her. That's where Eric comes in. The rebellious, drug-imbibing, son of a lawyer gives Meg what she wants when she wants it. That's exactly what they were up to the night they got arrested.

Officer John After routinely patrols the "No Trespassing" bridge that trains cross over. It's a compulsory habit. So the night he catches Meg, Eric and two other teens out on the bridge is no coincidence. Officer After wants to make sure these teens learn their lesson about following the law. So he strikes up a deal with the DA to make them all ride along with the local emergency service crews during Spring Break; except for Eric, whose daddy gets him off the hook. Lucky for Meg she gets stuck on the overnight shift with Officer After.

Pretty soon though, Officer After is revealed to be Johnafter from high school. He's only a year older than Meg, but he's already graduated from the police academy and is on patrol duty. This provides Meg with an endless supply of ammo to poke holes in his armor. She knows that he was captain of the track team and quite decent at art and starts questioning his choice of immediate profession. Over the course of the week, Meg and Johnafter start to develop an understanding of one another based on her passive aggressive (and sometimes out right aggressive) tactics and his bob-and-weave maneuvers. It's clear that something's gotta give between these two if their little town is to survive.

A no-holds-barred, anti-punch-pulling novel, Going Too Far is in a word: amazing. Meg is such a badass chick who apologizes for nothing. I found her tough outer appearance very abrasive (which was the point) but it also set up an alarm that there was something else going on behind that front. I have found that people are not usually that rough and tumble unless they are hiding something. And boy does she have a whopper of a secret!

Johnafter was as secretive and mysterious as Meg, only in a different manner. He wasn't as "in your face" about much, except when it came to the law. He took his job and himself very seriously and it was something that I rarely see in a character. There was so much too him and yet so little at the same time.

The base storyline was kind of obvious, but the execution of action was more nuanced and unexpected. I kept thinking that it was going to go one way and then it ended up going another. Their situation was a unique one in that, only in a smaller town would a suitable punishment for trespassing in a dangerous area be to ride along with emergency service crews for spring break. The character interactions were colorful and entertaining, while still maintaining a sometimes serious tone.

This book is great for fans of realistic fiction (obviously) and those who have enjoyed other books like Perfect Chemistry, Lock and Key, or The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove will find this story very much to their liking. I couldn't put it down and read it in less than a day, I truly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Penny Lane's parents are HUGE Beatles fanatics. Hello, note her name and those of her sisters: Lucy & Rita. Talk about an embarrassing existence; but not nearly as embarrassing as getting cheated on by the one guy you've been head-over-heels for forever. That's exactly what happened to Penny Lane, just as she was ready to take the next step in their relationship.

Taking solace in the only four men who she's ever been able to fully trust, George, Paul, John, and Ringo, Penny Lane decides to swear off boys for the remainder of high school. As a junior, that shouldn't be too hard for her. Naturally she has to make up an awesome name for her miserable state: The Lonely Hearts Club.

Only the population of TLHC doesn't remain at 1 for long. Soon, her old friend Diane, after her recent break-up with longtime-boyfriend Ryan, joins her club looking for affirmations of her worth and the pleasure of non-demanding female company. Shortly thereafter, word of the club spreads like wildfire and membership explodes. Penny Lane must deal with the club, her school's dislike of the club, and her growing feelings for a boy. But she'll make it, with a little help from her friends.

This fun novel was a real pleasure to read. It was uplifting and self-affirming in all the right places. It's a perfect novel for teen girls who are frustrated with the dating situation. These girls are far from perfect, they have doubts and fears and issues, but the fact that they stick together and work on them is what's so important.

Penny Lane does a fabulous job of embodying the constant struggles that young women face. She is hurt and in need to comfort and creates what she needs. She turns to those who really care for her and makes her own path with their help. I think that is a very important and powerful message to send to readers.

While there isn't much earth-shattering conflict, I enjoyed the ride all the same. It was especially delighted to be rewarded with titles and snippets of popular Beatles songs at the beginning of each section. A wonderfully alluring novel, I highly recommend it for a feel-good, pick-you-up read.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Nostalgic Friday: Battle Dress by Amy Efaw

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.


This week I am featuring Battle Dress by Amy Efaw. Again, a book I read in high school, but with a twist. I was in an Air Force Junior ROTC at my high school, so naturally I gave the thought of a military career serious thought. This book, while fictional, is written by a West Point graduate. That's right, I had no idea that:

1. Amy Efaw would later write another book I adore, but that I loved her work from the beginning.
   
2. She is a West Point graduate and proudly served in the United States Army.

So I thank her for her service and hope you'll think about picking up this novel.

Andi Davis wanted to escape; escape her abusive mother, escape her resigned father, and escape from a boring, nothingness existence. West Point seemed like the best option for her. It provided strenuous training, promised rigorous academic challenges, and most of all, a way out. All Andi had to do in return for a free college education was serve in the Army after school; and after all she's been through, this should be a piece of cake.

Then Andi arrives at West Point for the first six weeks as known as Beast. This is where a majority of cadets realize what they are in for and run for the hills; but not Andi. While the upper class cadets scream, rant and rave, and use the new cadets as their personal slaves, Andi decides to hunker done and make it through. In the process she learns more about herself, her place in the world, and what she is really made of.

I found this book very real. I mean, the way everything was described made me feel like I was actually there with Andi. If you've ever seen An Officer and a Gentleman or seen an "Inside the World of a Military Academy" show you already have a mental image of what is taking place in the book, but Efaw brings it life for you. Andi was a very familiar character and listening to her story unfold was like listening to a friend talk. The other cadets were very well-rounded and balanced as well. No two cadets were alike and it made for very realistic discord. Naturally there will be some trouble-makers in every group and this story was no exception. Yet, in the end, I truly believe that everyone had grown as a person and really found what they were looking for at West Point.

Give this book a chance and I promise you won't be disappointed. And if you haven't already, check out my review of her second novel After here.

Nostalgic Friday: Battle Dress by Amy Efaw

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Doesn't everyone know how to ride a bike? Somehow Auden managed to miss that lesson as a child. The single, insomniac off-spring of a notable professor mother and a one-book-wonder author father, she is raised in a world of school hard work, perfection, and deadlines. The summer before she goes off to college, Auden decides to take refuge from her demanding mother at her father's house. With a new, young wife, a brand new baby girl, and a book deadline, Auden's father has little to no time for her at all.

While roaming the streets for a late-night dive with good coffee, Auden stumbles upon a lone guy on a bike named Eli. They don't hit it off right from the beginning, but she can tell that there is something different about him. Over time, as they start to see each other more and more, Auden and Eli try to make up for all the things that she has missed out on. Riding bikes, dancing, bowling, and general "firsts" are being enjoyed.

Although they are spending all this time together, these two barely know anything about one another; but they are falling for one another. When the truth about Eli's past comes out, things change for everyone.

A very sweet read and one that should be considered for a perfect ending to the summer, Along for the Ride was a romantic coming of age story, but one that those of us who don't enjoy mushy-gushy can definitely enjoy. Keep an eye out for her other books as they are just as well written and definitely just as delectable!

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie Landau-Banks has transformed into a girl over the summer. Not only did she change so much physically that more boys are noticing her, but her attitude towards her male-dominated, prep-school world has become wrathful. After growing up listening to her father and his buddies regale her with tales of outrageous things they did with their prep-school secret society, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, Frankie decides that she will join this "renegade" society. To her dismay, she discovers not only are girls not allowed, but the Bassets have fallen from their glory days.

Due to her summer transformation Frankie manages to attract the attention of gorgeous senior Matthew, who happens to be a member of the secret society. Through Matthew, Frankie determines who the leader is and decides to make a little mischief to reclaim the glory that was once so prevalent on campus. Little does she know what sleeping dog she will awaken...

Frankie Landau-Banks is a terrifically accessible character for many younger girls. Always thought of last and disregarded as the "baby of the family" she asserts herself in the ways that most people only dream about. Luckily for the story, instead of everything working out to her benefit, she has to watch as her world mutates into something unrecognizable when she loses control of the monster she has created. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart