Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins 
Publisher: Dutton 
Pages: 372
My Rating: 5 stars

 Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Review

I must say, Stephanie Perkins has seriously outdone herself here. This book was absolutely amazing. I'm not one to read a teen romance without any magic involved. I picked up this book because of all the rave it was receiving from fellow YA bloggers. After getting into the first few chapters, I set the book aside saying "Why do people even write this crap?". But, that was when I thought this would be you're average 'girl-loves-boy', 'boy-likes-girl', 'boy-breaks-girls-heart' story. After really getting into it, I realized it was that plus so much more. I found I couldn't put the book down! I laughed at Anna's experiences, I cried at her heartache. Along with the romance, I actually felt like I was in Paris! Perkins packed in so many facts about the city along with some French language. After reading this, I felt like I could have an easy conversation in French. This book was excellently written and left me wanting more of Etienne St. Clair. Ohh-la-laa!

Brief Synopsis

All together, I can easily say that this book has made me look more into the romance/contemporary mixed with comedy genre. I guess I never really thought I could appreciate a romance novel without someone having a terminal illness and dying at the end. I'm very glad that I picked this book up and gave it a chance! 

In My Mailbox!

Today, I received a package from Simon & Schuster, containing four books. I'm not exactly sure why they sent them to me, seeing as I'm pretty sure I never requested any print copies from them. Here is what I received:

I received this as a hardback.

I received this as a paperback, ARC.

I received this as a paperback, ARC.

I received this as a paperback.

Review: Crossed

Title: Crossed

Author: Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Pages: 367

 

Rules Are Different Outside The Society

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky--taken by the Society to his sure death--only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of a rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices every thing to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.
Narrated from both Cassia's and Ky's point of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever.

 My Review

 

I totally can't wait until the 3rd book comes out!

After reading 'Matched', you were probably like "What about Ky? Tell me more about this mysterious God!"

Well, in 'Crossed', that's pretty much what the whole book is about. Ky, Ky, Ky. But, shall we complain? It's what most of us were wanting. If you were Team Xander, like many were, in 'Matched', you'll be sure to switch over to Team Ky by the middle of 'Crossed'. If not, you're insane..

Basically, the whole book is about Cassia running to her lovely Ky and escaping the psychos (a.k.a Society) that are after them. But, Cassia knows what she wants and is willing to risk her own life to get it.

I rate this book 4 stars. Amazing.

Follow Friday- #2

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

If you can't follow via GFC, then please follow via NetworkedBlogs or e-mail! :)

Please state in the post if you're a new follower or old follower. If you don't tell me that you are following, then I don't know that you are. Therefore, I'll not follow you back. I would like to follow each and every one of you back, so it is important that you clearly state that you are following me and not just stopping by. When someone says, "just saying hi!" or "just hopping through!" then I have no idea if you are following or not. That means that I may or may not return the visit, depending on how much time I have. The people who state they are following me will definitely get a visit and follow back. Also be sure to leave a link back to your blog, otherwise I won't know where to go to follow you! Thank you.     



Q: Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

A: Hmm, I'd have to say 'Into The Wild'. We never really read anything worth reading, but this book was actually really awesome. After you get into it, you're heart just starts to break.

What about ya'll?

What's Next?- #1

What's Next? is a weekly meme hosted by IceyBooks.  It's a chance for you to choose what I read/review next!  Here are this week's options (all images are linked to Goodreads):

 

Comment below with which book I should read next!

Library Haul- #1

For every trip I make to my public library, I will make a new post of the books I picked up!

 

Follow Friday- #1

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

 If you can't follow via GFC, then please follow via e-mail! :)

Please state in the post if you're a new follower or old follower. If you don't tell me that you are following, then I don't know that you are. Therefore, I'll not follow you back. I would like to follow each and every one of you back, so it is important that you clearly state that you are following me and not just stopping by. When someone says, "just saying hi!" or "just hopping through!" then I have no idea if you are following or not. That means that I may or may not return the visit, depending on how much time I have. The people who state they are following me will definitely get a visit and follow back. Also be sure to leave a link back to your blog, otherwise I won't know where to go to follow you! Thank you.    

 Q: Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?

A: Ahhh jeeezz. *facepalm* This is a tough one. Hmm..I'd have to pick Tiger Lily and Anna Dressed In Blood.

What books would ya'll pick?

Review: Living Dead Girl

Title: Living Dead Girl
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 170
My Rating: 4 stars

"Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was."  


When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

                                            My Review
Wow. Just, wow. I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. The things that this girl experiences from the time she's kidnapped at 10 years old until the time she tells the story at age 15. While reading this book, I had that longing to jump right into the pages and beat the living daylights out of this Ray figure. It's very difficult to get through this story without crying. And, let me warn you, there WILL be tears. For those of us with little sisters, daughters, young nieces, little cousins, or just a big loving heart, this will be a gripping story that you'll never forget. I give it 4 stars for making me cry even a day after I finished it.

Giveaway: Win a SIGNED COPY of 'The Syndicate' by Shelena Shorts!

For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now, he'll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.

The action, mystery, and conspiracy in The Syndicate will take readers on an immersing journey in which decisions are not only life changing, but irreversible.

Hosted by Pages From My Thoughts.

"Waiting On" Wednesday - #1

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by BreakingTheSpine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I've picked:

Title: Reached (Matched, #3)

Author: Ally Condie

Pages:  384

To Be Published: November 13, 2012

Cassia faces the ultimate choices in the long-anticipated conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

The first 2 books were absolutely amazing! I just cannot wait for this book to reach the shelves. <33

Review: Exposed

Title: Exposed
Author: Kimberly Marcus
Pages: 255
Publisher: Random House

"In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend."

Sixteen-year-old Liz is Photogirl—sharp, focused and confident in what she sees through her camera lens. Confident that she and Kate will be best friends forever.

But everything changes in one blurry night. Suddenly, Kate is avoiding her, and people are looking the other way when she passes in the halls. As the aftershocks from a startling accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself shifts out of focus. What happens when the picture you see no longer makes sense? What do you do when you may lose everything you love most? Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.

My Review 

This book wasn't anything special. I mean, don't get me wrong, the idea behind the book could have made an amazing story, given more thought and time for writing. A really great thing about this book is that it doesn't drag on and on at the beginning. It gets straight to the point. When books take forever to even start explaining the main plot, I just put them down, not bothering with the rest. I started and finished this book in the same day. It honestly was a lovely read. Not to mention, I'm a sucker for books written in verse. It helps the story flow and is very easy on the eyes. To be honest, if it wasn't written in verse, I probably wouldn't have finished it. I give this book 3 stars. It really is a great story, it just needed to be written better.

Review: Beyond (Afterlife, #1)

Title: Beyond
Author: Willow Rose

# of Pages: N/A

Publisher: N/A

Have you ever wondered where you go when you die?

Meghan is 16 when it happens to her. She wakes up on a flying steamboat on her way to a school run by Angels in a white marble castle. It is a school everybody has to go to before they are let into Heaven. On the boat she meets Mick who has been dead for more than a hundred years but still looks like a teenager. He helps her past the difficult beginning at the new school in a new world. One day some of Meghan's roommates find a mirror in the cellar of the school and they persuade her to go through it with them - well knowing it is strictly against the rules of the school. Meghan ends up back on earth where she meets Jason. But Jason is in danger and Meghan know something important. Something that is a matter of life and death. Soon she is forced to choose between the two worlds. The one she belongs to now and the one she left.

 My Review

I was sent this book through Basically Books in return for a review. I rate this book 4 stars. The story line is an easy 4.5, but there were many grammar and punctuation mistakes. The basis of this book is that a teen girl dies and is sent to an Academy in the after life. There, she learns how to live as a spirit and what is expected of her. Against Academy rules, she ventures into the human world and, in my opinion, sets herself up for disappointment with what she finds there and how it transforms her. She must make important choices for herself and for the life of others. It was a very easy read; an intriguing page turner it was. The ending was abrupt, but it is easy to get over after you remind yourself that there are sequels. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series. :)

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs
# of Pages: 352
Publisher: Quirk

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live.

          My Review

 This may be my shortest review ever, but this is officially my favorite book of all time. Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me cringe, because it all seemed so real. My heart is racing, and I'm still shaken by the whole last chapter. It's a historical fiction, very sad, hopeful, and maybe I'll even hint that there is a slight love interest involved? :) I absolutely adored this, it's a must-read! Definitely earned 10 stars, but can only get 5. I truly think that I'll never enjoy a book the same way I enjoyed this one.