The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Publication Date: April 1st, 2014
Edition: Paperback/Audiobook Pages: 288
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

Synopsis

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love (Goodreads).

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading/listening to this book! The main thing that sold me on this book was that it is a book about books. The book mentions so many books and authors it makes you want to read even more (here is a list of books mentioned in Storied). 

I love the characters, I love how the story progressed, I enjoyed the little twists and turns, and I adored the beautiful and bittersweet moments in the book. There is so much that I can say about this book but I really don't want to give away too much. The synopsis says enough! Oh, and I adore Amelia! She is my spirit animal!

This book has some great quotes about books and love, and just some really funny moments. 

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books about books or books about bookish people because sometimes you just need to read a book about people like yourself. 

“Sometimes books don't find us until the right time.” 

“They had only ever discussed books but what, in this life, is more personal than books?” 

“You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, What is your favorite book?” 

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: February 10th, 2015
Edition: Hardcover Pages: 304
Acquired: Books of Wonder
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

Trigger Warning: suicide, depression

SYNOPSIS: 

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. 

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince. (book synopsis from goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

My impression upon finishing this book can be represented by one word: incredible! The writing, the characters, the plot, the emotion... all of it was wonderful and perfect. It is hard to say you love and enjoyed a book with such a heavy topic as the main focus of the book but I did. The reading experience for this book was light and heavy at the same time and the emotion was so raw it was like being inside Asyel's mind.

This book starts off depressing because Aysel is depressed. She is living in a huge shadow cast by her father's missteps and doesn't know how she can escape it. She has walled off or been pushed away from people and even her own family has a hard time reaching out to her. The emotion of this book and Aysel's narration is scary. You kind of get sucked into her depression and even though I can't connect to her situation I can empathize because I know what it is like to be talked about and judged by people, doesn't every one? At least a little bit? Aysel's narration is also scary because it is so believable and natural. Nothing about this book seemed forced or over done. The progression of the story pulled me deeper into the black hole it had quickly become and I let it because I was so enthralled by the intricate web of words, actions, and moments Warga has crafted.

I am sure after reading that paragraph you are wondering "if this was a depressing book and it made you so sad why did you give it 5 stars?" Well you have to read for yourself but here is what I can tell you.

• This book has 5 stars because of Aysel and Roman. Their friendship, though born from a mutual desire to end their lives, is a beautiful thing and they learn so much about each other and themselves from their relationship. Aysel's science nerd-ness was fun for me as well. Plus I just want to hug them both so hard. 
• This book has 5 stars because of Tyler and Mike. They both have small inklings that something is up with Aysel and though they don't come at her head on they both make her think about her decisions. 
• This book has 5 stars because of the ending. Oh my gosh, the ending. No tears were formed but my eyes were prickly and I just can't even with the ending. It was done extremely well. I can't say more. 
• This book has 5 stars because of the Author Note at the end. I could already tell that Jasmine had put her heart and soul into this book but the author note sealed it. 

We have all been in a bad place at some point in our life in some way, shape or form. You may have lost someone, or felt alone, or any number of other reasons that may have made you feel less than someone else. Aysel and Roman's stories show you just how deep depression can go and how it can affect your choices and ultimately your life. The way their story unfolded gave me as the reader a chance to experience what it might be like to be lost in my own life like Aysel and Roman felt. This book will humble you, it will ground you and make you take a step back to inventory the people in your life and how they affect you. Being able to talk to someone and having people who care for you is a wonderful thing. 

I know that this book will not be for everyone. The subject matter of this book makes it hard to read but it must be read by those who are willing. This book has made me reflect on my role in my own life as well as the lives around me. My Heart and Other Black Holes is a destructively beautiful book and my heart aches for the characters and more importantly the real people throughout the world that are going through similar situations. I hope that this book will bring forth more people that are willing to be a pillar of support to those who need it.

“Depression is like a heaviness that you can’t ever escape. It crushes down on you, making even the smallest things like tying your shoes or chewing on toast seem like a twenty-mile hike uphill. Depression is a part of you; it’s in your bones and your blood.” 

I hope that my review will convince you to read "My Heart..." if you can, because I think it offers a unique perspective on mental illness that people should experience. If you have read and found new perspectives through Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filler, or Looking for Alaska by John Green then I would highly recommend My Heart and Other Black Holes.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 1st, 2015
Edition: ARC Pages: 307
Acquired: received through local bookstore
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SYNOPSIS: 

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster. (book synopsis from goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

OH MY WORD! This book! It had me laughing, it had me “aww” ing, and most importantly it had me riveted to my seat! I read this book in the matter of a few hours!

Madeline has an immune disease that makes it impossible for her to leave her house for fear that she might come in contact with one of her triggers that could very well kill her, and though she has learned to be tolerant and zen about it she still yearns for the outside world. This yearning is turned into overdrive when Olly moves in next door and nothing is the same afterward.

Half way through the book I was thinking “aw this book is so cute” Maddy and Olly’s relationship magnifies in front of your eyes and you can’t help but to be completely engrossed in the entire thing. It is almost like you are seeing the world for the first time just like Maddy. Maddy’s condition has had her locked in her house with only books to comfort her and to give her the adventure she couldn’t experience otherwise. If you are bookish you will relate with Maddy on a very emotional level. 

Maddy is so innocent and sassy and you get a really good fell for this throughout the novel in the instant messages, drawings, book spoilers, and personal dictionary entries. Yes, the romance is a bit insta-lovey but honestly it really fits Maddy’s character. This book has it’s inconsistencies but I think it is intentional because Maddy is our narrator and her perspective is completely different from what we would perceive as outsiders. I also wish we got a better understanding of what SCID is and why everything had to be white and what triggers Maddy has. Again, I think this is somewhat due to Maddy’s narration and the way her perspective is presented to the reader.

After you get over the cuteness you realize this book has a much deeper connotation to it and WHOA! I’m not usually one to talk about a plot twist but this book has a particularly fantastic one and was in a very interesting direction. This book took me by surprise and I loved every second of it!

MUCH RECOMMEND

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA lit! Everything, Everything is wonderfully written and was so much more than I expected! Also this book could definitely satisfy anyone who is on a diverse book kick because this book confronts illness and Maddy is multiracial. This book seems like it will be one that will have some mixed reviews (it already does) but I really think that everyone that is intrigued by the synopsis should read the story because it will throw you through a loop and draw you in to Maddy’s life. Please pick this book up and give it a go!

The Rise and the Fall of a Theater Geek by Seth Rudetsky

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers 

Publication Date: June 23rd, 2015

Edition: eARC Pages: ?

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Summary

The shows, the neon lights . . . the cute chorus boys! It's where Justin has always wanted to be--and now, with a winter internship for a famous actor, he finally has his chance to shine. If only he could ditch his kind, virtuous, upright, and--dare he say it?—uptight boyfriend, Spencer. But once the internship begins, Justin has more to worry about than a cramped single-guy-in-the-city style. Instead of having his moment in the spotlight, he's a not-so-glorified errand boy. Plus, Spencer is hanging out with a celebra-hottie, Justin's best friend Becky isn't speaking to him, and his famous actor boss seems headed for flopdom. Justin's tap-dancing as fast as he can, but all his wit and sass might not be enough to switch his time in New York from nightmare-terrible to dream-come-true terrific (goodreads).

What I Thought

This book had a rocky start for me. The main character Justin is pretentious and annoying at times and reminded me a lot of first season Rachel from Glee. The good thing is that the book got better. Justin is an openly gay teenager with a boyfriend and is very comfortable in his own skin. I like that this book didn't focus on Justin's sexuality. Justin is out and honest about who he is and crushes on boys just as hard as any teen girl would.

Justin also has great friends that complement his ostentatious personality. Spencer and Becky are the friends that take no crap, they make Justin see how controlling and manipulative he is and call him out for it. This is where things get even better.

Justin has to participate in an internship to earn credit towards graduation. Being the theater geek that he is Justin secures a Broadway internship for him and his friends with different companies. Justin furthers his rise in Broadway when he randomly meets a rising star at a musical and decides to intern for him.

The internships aren't what any of the three friends thought they would be but through it all Justin learns how to control himself and be a better friend, solves a mystery, and got the Broadway internship of his dreams..

If you love Broadway, mystery, shenanigans, or just want a fun and fluffy read I would say give this book a shot! 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: YA/NA Fantasy/Retelling

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: May 5th, 2015

Edition: Hardcover Pages: 416

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Summary

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever (goodreads).

What I Thought

A Court of Thorns and Roses was such a fantastic read! If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings then this is an awesome book for you. Feyre is not provincial french woman with a brutish man pining after her. She is the Katniss of her family, she hunts for food for her family so they can survive. Her sisters are mild versions of Cinderella's stepsisters and don't help out much with providing for their family. Feyre shoulders all of the responsibility for her distant sisters, her wounded father, and herself because of a promise she made to her mother. When out hunting one day Feyre comes across a wolf like creature and has to kill him or be killed. Feyre's murder of the wolf (Faerie) has brought another faerie to her doorstep with an ultimatum: cross to the faerie realm to never return to the mortal lands or die. Feyre begs for her family's well being and is then whisked away by Tamlin back to the Spring Court that he calls home. The main plot of this book is Feyre's introduction to the Faerie Courts and the Fae culture with a bit of mischief, nefarious creatures, and a Faerie that is plaguing her own people.

As with Sarah's other series (Throne of Glass) I love her writing style in this book. It is a style that I can't read fast but rather I enjoy 'drinking in' slowly. Feyre has a lovely artistic eye and her descriptions are beautiful. I love how this story progresses and how Feyre grows as a character. She can be a bit timid and whiny at times but she really grows into herself and finally allows herself to be expressive and take charge of herself, even if it still gets her into loads of trouble. I was not disappointed by this book at all, the world is crafted well, the characters are wonderful (Tamlin and Lucien *heart eyes*), and the romance is kind of hilarious to me. The romance is a bit "instalovey" but I still like how it happened because it was funny! The Fae element of this book is so interesting and unique.

I want so much more! This book set up what will surely be an amazing series with a great cast of characters! Besides there is a giant library that any of us book lovers would want and gorgeously detailed paintings and murals. This books is fantastic and I would recommend to anyone who loves a good YA fantasy or Beauty and the Beast like stories.

Another Day by David Levithan

Genre: YA Contemporary/Magical Realism

Publisher: Knopf Books

Publication Date: August 25th 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 300

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★ (3/5 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Summary

Every day is the same for Rhiannon. She has accepted her life, convinced herself that she deserves her distant, temperamental boyfriend, Justin, even established guidelines by which to live: Don’t be too needy. Avoid upsetting him. Never get your hopes up.

Until the morning everything changes. Justin seems to see her, to want to be with her for the first time, and they share a perfect day—a perfect day Justin doesn’t remember the next morning. Confused, depressed, and desperate for another day as great as that one, Rhiannon starts questioning everything. Then, one day, a stranger tells her that the Justin she spent that day with, the one who made her feel like a real person . . . wasn’t Justin at all (goodreads).

What I Thought

***This review SPOILS parts of Every Day the first novel in the companion series

Do NOT continue if you haven't read Every Day Go here for my review of Every Day***

What can I say about Another Day? Was it interesting to read? Yes. Was it mind blowing-ly awesome? Not quite. If you don't already know Another Day is the retelling of the events of Every Day from Rhiannon's point of view. If you don't know who Rhiannon is, or what Every Day is about I suggest you go read that first.

Let me preface this by saying that I read Every Day and Another Day back to back and I don't recommend doing that. Why? Mainly because it was kind of boring to rehash the same events from a very slight change of perspective.

Honestly I feel like they should make a compilation book and mesh Every Day and Another Day together where the chapters alternate between perspectives because I found myself going back and rereading A's accounts anyways. I think this companion novel would have been better if it started instead where it ended and continued the story from there when Rhiannon decides to try and find A.

This book wasn't a complete disappointment though, I promise! I still really enjoyed reading it and I found parts of what Rhiannon was going through to be really interesting especially the days that A doesn't see her. I would love to know more about her family and her friends (Preston is my favorite!) but she isn't a completely 3 dimensional character that could stand on her own, at least not well enough to stand next to A, her narrative just fell a little flat.

All in all this book did what Levithan set out to do, answer the question of what it would be like to know someone who switched bodies every day. This book was fun to read as a huge fan of the first book but it wasn't compelling enough to stand alone like a companion novel should. I would definitely recommend this to those who really are interested in Rhiannon's POV.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Publisher: Knopf Books

Publication Date: October 20th, 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 599

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Summary

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. (goodreads)

What I Thought

I am blown away! This book was a glorious start to a new trilogy of epic space adventures. This book is relatively unique for a young adult novel because we start with a present day letter explaining that the information we are about to read has been gathered by the Illuminae group for an Executive Director Frobisher and all pertain to the events that occurred within the last year aboard the Alexander battle carrier and the other ships in its fleet. The story opens with interviews from our two main characters after the planet they lived on was attacked and they had to escape or be killed. Kady and Ezra are some sassy, intelligent teenagers and handle every thing that comes at them as well as you would expect. I love their relationship and that even though they have recently ended their romantic relationship they still care deeply for each other.

What sets this book apart from others in the sci-fi genre is that it isn't told in a narrative writing style. The whole story of the events on the Alexander fleet is told through a compilation of documents that the Illuminae group has collected in a dossier. There are medical files, interviews, chat room transcripts, forms, diary entries, emails, schematics, military fiiles, surveillance summaries, and information from the ship's computer system AIDAN. The battle sequences have beautifully designed typography and  are so fun to read. This book may be almost 600 pages but it flies by! So much goes on in this book and it is such a fantastic ride!

Finally, that ending though?! So awesome! There is a great twist, that isn't quite a cliff hanger (in my eyes) as much as it is a promise of more shenanigans and good times to come! You should definitely keep this book on your radar and pick it up when it comes out in October!

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy

Publisher: Penguin Group/DAW

Publication Date: March 27, 2007

Edition: Audio Book/eBook Pages: 662

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Summary

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree.

"The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire.

"The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age.

I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic (Patrick Rothfuss).

What I Thought

I am blown away by this book! I had heard so many interesting things and people saying they loved this book but I just couldn't commit to the time it would take to read it and be able to keep up with it (during the school year and being my first year teaching I had minimal time to read during the week). So I decided that I would preview the audio book and see if I would enjoy that, spoiler: I did! Now I did get the kindle copy and audible book combo so I could switch back and forth and I am really glad I did because with an epic fantasy there are interesting names, vocabulary, and places that the audio book were great for helping with pronunciations but being able to see them in print was wonderful as well. I mainly listened to this book on the ride to and from work (about an hour a day) and where ever else I needed to go. It took a while to get through but I LOVED it!

This story is so rich in it's world building and unbelievably well crafted. Kvothe is a fascinating character and the way the story is crafted it feels like you are listening right along with Chronicler, reading over his shoulder as he pens the story that Kvothe now tells. The book is mainly Kvothe recounting the events of his life and how he came to study at the University to become an arcanist, basically a wizard to the average layperson in the story. The magic system in this book isn't as simple as waving a wand though, it is an art of different disciplines known as Sympathy, Sygaldry, Alchemy, and Naming. This makes the magic system complex but so very interesting! The Name of the Wind is a beautiful coming of age story about a traveling troupe kid that wants to go to the University so he can learn the name of the wind and be able to control the wind like Taborlin the Great from the legends. Kvothe's story is one of happiness, heart break, survival, friendship, and competition. There is humor and shenanigans but also a lot of serious events too. I was drawn in by this story and have seriously loved every second of it! Kvothe has had an interesting life and The Name of the Wind is just the first day in his first full recounting of the actual events that he has faced and overcome in his life. Kvothe has heard the rumors about him and has even started a few of them, but now he is going to set the record straight.

It was really hard to put into words what makes this book special and wonderful. I am sure you can find more articulate reviews out there on this book on YouTube but hopefully you are able to get a better idea of the story from my thoughts above. I think this is a book everyone should give a go because it is an EPIC book. I can't even begin to fathom, or help someone else fathom, the enormity of this world but I can tell you I will read any book published about it. The glimpses of the history, culture, and politics that this book gives for the world are astounding and elaborate and I would read about the history of the world in this book alone all day long. Oh, and did I mention that there is a huge library in this book? Like Library of Alexandria huge! I appreciate that The Name of the Wind doesn't have a mile long cast of characters like most epics and I think that if you enjoy the fantasy genre that this should definitely be a contender for your TBR.

If you have any specific questions about the book that I haven't addressed please comment below and I will try to answer it!

Damage Done by Amanda Panitch

Genre: YA Contemporary/Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: July 21st, 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 292

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Trigger Warnings: school shooting, incest, violence

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SUMMARY
22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police. (Goodreads)

WHAT I THOUGHT
This was a very compelling read! The writing was wonderful and the story had some great twists and turns in it that really kept you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in about 4 hours (with small breaks). Once the story got going I really couldn't put it down because I wanted to know if my inklings towards the plot were true.

The story follows Julia Vann, a high school student and her life after a shooting occurs at her high school in northern California. Julia is now Lucy Black and is living in southern California with her parents who have cultivated new identities for themselves to escape the media circus that surrounded their lives after the shooting. Julia is an unreliable narrator from the start and each chapter has your formulating a new explanation for why she is thinking the way she is and pulling apart all of her subtle hints and remarks. Though I found the direction of the story early on I was still blindsided by the ending! I was still guessing about a few things up until the very end.

I don't want to give too much away so I will just say: read it! It was a fun, thrilling read!

Survive the Night by Danielle Vega

Genre: YA Horror/Thriller

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: July 7th, 2015

My Edition: eARC Pages: 272

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Trigger warnings: drug use/addiction

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SUMMARY

Just back from rehab, Casey regrets letting her friends Shana, Julie, and Aya talk her into coming to Survive the Night, an all-night, underground rave in a New York City subway tunnel. Surrounded by frightening drugs and menacing strangers, Casey doesn’t think Survive the Night could get any worse... 

WHAT I THOUGHT

This book was insane! Fantastic dialogue, characters, and a mind blowing plot; Vega sure knows how to craft an epic YA horror novel! This book was seriously trippy and had shivers running down my spine on more than one occasion. Don't be surprised if you fly through this book in one sitting because it is totally worthy of a one sitting read. After Vega sets up the cast of characters and the plot the book starts to fly by and the last 100 pages are a complete blur, but an insanely wonderful blur! I absolutely loved this book!

I am at a loss for words that would adequately describe this book without giving away the finer points of the plot, seriously I didn't even post the full summary from Goodreads because I feel that it is a spoiler. I highly suggest you go into this book without knowing anything more than the above information and know that this book will take you on an insane journey!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: February 26th 2013

Edition: hardcover Pages: 328

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. (Goodreads)

What I Thought

I adored this book! The writing style and pacing were perfect. I really liked how the book flips between the perspectives of Eleanor and Park.Honestly, I had no words to describe why I loved this book at first, I just did. Now, it is sinking in that (minus the crazy stepdad and absent mother) I was very much like Eleanor when I was growing up. I didn’t wear the coolest clothes or even worry about the fact that I wasn’t wearing something ‘name brand’. I was always reading or listening to music, off in my own little world. I was bullied about stupid things and I internalized it all and never let it show. We are alike in those respects. Which is probably why this was such a great book for me, I love when I can relate to the characters and connect with them on an emotional level.

I loved the quirky relationship that Eleanor and Park had. It was awkward, it was sweet, it was funny. They had so much in common but still had their moments of conflict which made for hilarious banter. The ending for me was bittersweet. Though it was vague and left you guessing I think the book ended perfectly. It kind of lets you come up with the ending which is something I like. It does infuriate me sometimes that I don’t know what comes next for these characters but I find solace in the fact that they are happy.

Rainbow's writing and characters are to die for! I highly recommend this book!

'89 Walls by Katie Pierson

Genre: YA Romance/Historical Fiction

Publisher: Wise Ink

Publication Date: June 5th, 2015

Edition: ARC Pages: 264

Purchase: Book Depository
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Trigger warnings: abortion, (assisted) suicide

SUMMARY
College is not in the cards for Seth. He spends his minimum wage on groceries and fakes happiness to distract his mom from the MS they both know will kill her. It’s agony to carry around a frayed love note for a girl who’s both out of his league and beneath his dignity. 

Quinn’s finishing high school on top. But that cynical, liberal guy in her social studies class makes her doubt her old assumptions. Challenging the rules now, though, would a) squander her last summer at home, b) antagonize her conservative dad, and c) make her a hypocrite. 

Seth and Quinn’s passionate new romance takes them both by surprise. They keep it a secret: it’s too early to make plans and too late not to care. But it’s 1989. As politics suddenly get personal, they find themselves fighting bare-fisted for their beliefs—and each other—in the clear light of day. (Goodreads)


WHAT I THOUGHT
This was an interesting story overall. I haven't read much on the political fiction side of historical fiction but I found this very easy to follow and read even though I did not live through the events surrounding 1989, the year in which this book takes place.The prologue really drew me into the story, sadly I did have some issues with the book.

Things I liked: I appreciated the historical aspect of the novel and how it explored both sides of the political climate during this tumultuous time in our countries history. The book explored the impacts of the Cold War, apartheid, Roe v. Wade, and presidential decisions. This book would be a useful educational tool for helping students get historical information from fiction. The ARC copy even had a glossary and timeline for reference! I also thought the romance was really cute and somewhat realistic for the time period. I also appreciate what the author was trying to do with including abortion, MS, and a father in the military to highlight more of the issues that people faced during that time. I enjoyed the dual perspective between the two main characters/love interests.

Things I didn't like: The book was too short to explore so many different issues. The political issues with the cold war were enough to make the story interesting to anyone who understand the complete and utter opposition between a democrat and a republican but the author also added abortion, illness, living wills, and so much more to the story that it kind of diluted the impact that it could have had. The abortion scenes were quick and didn't have much emotion besides the activists and I was surprised at how the news was taken; it added to the political climate of the book but didn't really add to the story. I feel the same way about the sex scene, interesting but it fell flat because it didn't contribute to the story, honestly it lost me at "breast pancakes".

The political and historical angle of this book makes it great for getting that information across to students who just don't 'get it' from reading a history textbook. The romance makes it fun and the teenager angst makes it relatable. I don't think this book is bad, I just think that it could have been better had it been longer and took more time to complete each arc of the story with more detail. I feel like the issues addressed were very quickly resolved and somewhat unrealistic.

I would still recommend this book because the romance was cute, historical fiction is always interesting, and I did enjoy reading this book! I just wish it hadn't have felt so rushed.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Science Fiction

Publisher: Soho Teen

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2015

Edition: hardcover Pages: 293

Purchase: Book Depository

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

Trigger Warning: Suicide, depression

SUMMARY

The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-relief procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto -- miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. But Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor or how his friends aren't always there for him. Like after his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. Aaron has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough. 

Then Thomas shows up. He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn't mind Aaron's obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes. Most importantly, Thomas doesn't mind talking about Aaron's past. But Aaron's newfound happiness isn't welcome on his block. Since he can't stay away from Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is. (Goodreads)

WHAT I THOUGHT

Wow. This story got me in the heart, and broke it. Aaron is such a witty character, though his thoughts can be a bit depressing. The story progresses easily and had some fun humor, relatable pop culture, and all of the makings for a fun contemporary with a side of romance; but then things got serious. As Aaron opens up to his new friend Thomas he also opens up to the reader and you get a glimpse of who he really is underneath of what he shows to his other friends. Aaron starts to discover that his life is starting to turn in a different direction and it scares him but he also begins to embrace it. This is a coming of age story, a story of finding yourself, but also of losing yourself. 

I really enjoyed the science fiction element with the Leteo institute and the possibilities it would bring if it actually existed. If you had lost a child, a friend, a parent; if you had done something unspeakable would you want to forget? If you hated something about yourself and that hatred consumed you and lead you to dark paths would you want to fix it? Leteo wants to help you fix it by suppressing memories and allowing you to move on. Leteo isn't portrayed as a magical fix, there is therapy and support given to all candidates before the procedure and after. 

Another thing I liked that has nothing to do with the plot was how the smiley faces that broke up the different scenes changed as the tone of the book changed, it was a cool feature, an awesome attention to detail.

My final thoughts... you should read this book! It is a book about courage, love, and the lengths people will go to find happiness There are some wonderful quotes about grief, pain, and memories that I think everyone can relate to and understand.