"I spent my life folded between the pages of books." -Tahereh Mafi

Some of my reviews are normal non-spoilery reviews. But some of reviews contain lots and lots of spoilers to help you (and me!) remember what happened when the next book in the series finally comes out. Both review types are clearly marked.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Unteachable by Leah Raeder




This review is spoiler free!!



My rating: 5/5 stars








I don't read a lot of New Adult. Because, let's face it, most of it sucks. But this...




This does not suck. Like at all. I'll admit, as a professor, the storyline of a teacher and student being together was a bit creepy, but it was also sweet, and messy, and emotional, and awesome. 

This is not my kind of book, but the writing was so fantastic that I didn't care that it isn't my kind of book. If you haven't read this yet, then do it! Now!!


Find it on Goodreads

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

This review is spoiler free!!

My rating: 5/5 stars

I'm not even sure what to say about this book. This is not going to be a long review, because the library didn't have it in kindle format, so it was difficult to take notes, which meant that I didn't take notes... 

I went in expecting a typical ya dystopian. It had all the elements of one, but she did different things with them. Yes, there was the powerful, badass heroine, but she had real flaws (and not the "I just feel so different from everyone" kind of flaws). Yes, there was a kinda/sorta love triangle, but it was not the "there's two totally hot guys that are both in love with me, however will I choose?" kind of triangle. The end was kind of what I expected, but not in the way I expected.

Definitely one of the best dystopians I've read in a while. 


Find it on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Friday, February 13, 2015

The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

This review is spoiler free!!

My rating: 4/5 stars

This was a good contemporary standalone that doesn't have a heavy romance plot - there is a very light romance, but it's not central to the plot. Most contemporaries seem to revolve around romance - which, admittedly, I like, but it's nice to take a break. This is more like a survival story with a bullying background.

This book worried me in the beginning because I hadn't realized it was a about a girl on a church retreat. once I read that part, I was afraid it would be too religiously themed for me. But I think it struck a good balance of exploring religious ideas without preaching too much. After being lost in the woods for days, Hallie understandably starts to question god and her new friend Rachel isn't sure she believes at all. While Hallie eventually accepts god in the end, it doesn't feel preachy - it felt honest. This is how she feels and what she believes but she doesn't judge Rachel for questioning it. 

Find it on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Sleeping Tom by E.V. Fairfall

This review is spoiler free!!

My rating: 4/5 stars

Guys! This is so good!!  

This book went in a slightly different direction than I thought it would. That's good. Most YA books have become a bit too predictable these days. I thought this would be more paranormal. Either way it was great.

Caden was a bit difficult for me to identify with. She just got out of an abusive relationship and is struggling to figure out who she is and where she belongs. She has nowhere to go, which is why she ends up hitchhiking and accepting a ride and a couch to stay on from Gabriel. I could always understand Caden's underlying motivations, even when I totally disagreed with her. Beyond her abusive ex-boyfriend, Caden has no friends and an awful mother. The type of mother who told her "love isn't real." Well no wonder she's a bit messed up!!

Staying with Gabriel she encounters a mystery - he's a totally different person at night. She tries to unravel the mystery of why and how this can be. Who is he really? Is he Gabriel or Tom or both? 

In trying to unravel the mystery of Gabriel/Tom, she starts to understand the different parts of her own personality. She doesn't want to be the person she was when she was with her ex. So she tries to change herself into a bad-ass. But eventually that doesn't quite fit either. It's an interesting parallel between her situation and Gabriel's.

And the end!! Omg I cannot wait for the next book to get here!!

Also, the writing is great! 
Her body reminded him of a black hole sucking in all light and happiness, conveniently located in the passenger seat of his Saab.

Check it out on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon 

Thursday, February 5, 2015

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

This review is spoiler free!!

My rating: 3/5 stars

This book addresses some pretty heavy issues. I'm always a little apprehensive going into a book that deals with something as serious as depression and suicide because it's so difficult to deal with them well. I was especially worried with the blurb on this one - I was afraid that she'd fall in love with with guy and her depression would be magically lifted. But I think this book handled the issue well and I didn't get the feeling that Roman "cured" Aysel - he just unintentionally helped her to see herself in a different way. That being said, I've never been depressed or seriously considered suicide, so the author's depiction may not be realistic. But it felt realistic to me.

However, this book got 3 stars instead of 4 because it just didn't make me feel as many emotions as a book about suicide should. I'm a book emotional person (I don't feel emotions about real people or events, but I cry about fictional characters way too much!), so I feel like I should have at least teared up while reading a book about suicide, but no, nothing.