Review: Here by Denise Grover Swank

Julia Phillips doesn’t remember anything about the accident which killed her best friend, Monica, and leaves her feeling confused and guilty. The police think that she’s responsible for the accident, and her schoolmates treat her like a freak. Julia knows that her family is struggling to pretend that everything’s okay, but Julia doesn’t have the strength to play with. All Julia wishes is to die in place of Monica.

Julia’s grades are falling down and she is threatened by the possibility of being sent to alternative school. Her guidance counselor assigns some tutors to help her study. When one of the most popular guys in school, Evan Whittaker, volunteers to be one of the tutors, Julia thinks that it is very strange. Evan didn’t even spare her a glance before the accident, so what is it with thus sudden interest? Why does Evan look at her with such longing and sadness? Evan knows something about the accident. The whole reason why Julia can’t remember anything, why she suddenly possesses drawing skill, and why she owns a bracelet that is not hers from the accident… 

I’ve had my share of YA books but Here still managed to caught me by surprise. There is a twist in the middle of the story, one I didn’t see coming. I got a feeling that Evan is something more than a cute tutor and caring friend, but when the whole truth is unveiled, it still took me completely by surprise. I really like the twist even though I did feel as if the book I was reading suddenly switched its genre. The first half part of the book is the kind of sad contemporary I usually read, but for the rest of the book? It’s different. I don’t want to spoil the fun, but you have my word that the result is amazing.

I have to admit that I didn’t really like Julia at first. She annoyed me with the way she ignored her family’s suffering. Maybe I’m just being too hard to her since Julia obviously has gone through many things. But the more I read this book, the more she grows on me. Julia has a low self esteem, but I’m glad that Evan can encourage her little by little to stand up for herself. I guess the most favorite thing I find about Julia is her brilliant mind and her quick asses of her hard situation. I really like Evan’s character too. He’s not perfect and while his actions are considered brave, it is definitely reckless. However, he’s the one who fixes Julia. I doubt Julia would get better if Evan didn’t risk everything and come to her. Evan’s absolute devotion to Julia is very sweet and touching. 

Maybe one thing that turned me off a bit about Here is the love triangle aspect. I know some readers who enjoy the love triangle in this book, but honestly, I’m a little put off because of it. I was fully engrossed by Evan in the first half of the book, so the later appearance of Reece kind of shocked me. Both guys are cute, brave, and extraordinarily sweet, but I dislike how Julia is torn between two guys. I can see why Julia is attracted to Reece, but I also think that it’s strange considered her earlier romance with Evan.

In overall, Here is a great book that I would recommend to any fans of YA. When I found this book, I was instantly intrigued by the ghostly cover and the premise from the blurb. I thought this book would be another sad read about letting go and moving on, but it turns out to be so much more! Here is a great surprise and I enjoyed it immensely. I was very impressed with the twist and surprises that are thrown in the book. This book might have a slow start but the actions later kept me grinning with delight. It ends with a cliffhanger and even though the suspense is not enough to make me scream and rip out my hair, it certainly is great enough to leave me wanting to read the next book! I can’t wait to see what happens to Julia, Evan, and Reece’s adventure and the tangled relationship between the three of them.

I stand and tug on his arm. “You have to go!”

He grabs my hand as he rises. “Will you come?

His tear-soaked face waits for my answer. Tears over losing me. All I want is for someone to love me. Need me. I have it here, with him.

In the end, there is no question. I lift my chin. “Yes.”

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I rate this book: 

Four cups of tea. Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply awesome. I love the tea flavor!  A strong recommendation.

Review: Forgiving Trinity by Elizabeth Reinhardt

It is one night. The Night that wrecked not only her life, but also his life.

Trinity McCabe has sworn that she would become a new self after the Catastrophic Night that involved two cars, a dog, lots of tears, and sirens. In the late years of her seventeenth, she had committed many poor decisions. She was friends with people she shouldn’t have with. Her grades are poor and she barely passed her classes. She did drugs and she drank way too much.

Trinity decided that she had enough and she would like to change herself, but then The Night happened. The Night when Aidan Achelles took all the blame and went to juvy. The Night when Aidan acted all knight-in-shining-armor. The Night that makes Trinity goes autopilot and she sleepwalks through her life, hidden in the comfort of her flannel pajama.

Trinity doesn’t even think that she deserves second chance. However, people around her seem disagree at that idea. Even Aidan forgives her and they gradually become friends. Everything seems perfect for awhile. But for how long this little peaceful time would last? Will Trinity finally able to escape from her past? And could she save Aidan in time, when Aidan starts avoiding her and hangs out with people from Trinity’s past?

Forgiving Trinity is a complex story and the kind of book that will make you think after. I have been warned before that Forgiving Trinity tackles some serious stuff and it’s more appropriate for mature YA readers. I won’t recommend this book for younger readers because the mention of drugs, alcohol, and parties. Even though drugs using is not explicitly told, the emotional and gory aspects of this story aren’t suitable for younger readers.

I never got when and why exactly Trinity started to fall into that pit of darkness. She has amazing family and I’m sure that she had some pretty good friends in Junior High. Maybe it’s a rebellious phase but in my opinion, two years are very long time to let your daughter and little sister becoming stranger to you. It would be much better if her parent had taken some preventing steps before Trinity crushed and was in a big problem. I didn’t understand why they didn’t ground her and told her to stop seeing her ‘friends’ earlier.

Nonetheless, I really like it that her family is very supportive of her healing process. Trinity’s brother, Christian, genuinely cares for his little sister and I think that’s really sweet of him. I love it that Trinity has a new girl friend, Ruth, along the process. Their friendship is lovely and I found myself genuinely happy when Trinity finally has someone she can confide her thoughts about Aidan and a fairy godmother in fashion business sometimes.

I like this book because the whole healing process seems very real. Trinity tries really hard to become the new, clean Trinity and it’s not an easy task. There is nothing instant about forgiving yourself because you can’t pretend that all bad stuff you had done in the past can be erased magically from your history. Trinity did run away a good amount of times but it is all part of her healing process. I without doubt can feel that she grows up a lot throughout the story. The characters are complex, very human-like, and completely relatable. In mood to read a realistic YA book with believable characters, intricate story line, and possibility of being a tear-jerker? Then this is the book for you!

As much as I want Bad Trinity purged from my life, I realize that Good Trinity also has to go. I’m not either one anymore. I consider that I should, maybe, focus on figuring out what I’m not instead of what I am.

1. I’m not a Bad Girl.

2. I’m not a Good Girl.

3. I’m not a total coward.

4. I’m not very brave at all.

5. I’m not ready to know who I really am.

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I rate this book:

 Four cups of tea. Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply awesome. I love the tea flavor!  A strong recommendation.

Review: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

A heartbroken moment can turn deadly.

Brie’s life ends even before she has a taste of sweet sixteen. Her boyfriend, Jason, said the deadly words, “I don’t love you.” The shock in his words breaks Brie’s heart literally. Now Brie is a ghost, unable to rewind anything. She is determined to make Jason pay for his fault. Along with his new ghost partner-in-crime Patrick, Brie goes to visit Jason and take revenge on him. But things on Earth have been different after her death. Her family is torn apart, and Jason seems to have a special relationship with Brie’s best friend, Sadie.

Brie has to go through five stages before she can go to Heaven for real. She has to learn about forgiving… before it is too late and she can’t save people she loves anymore.

Even though The Catastrophic History of You and Me sounds like an incredibly funny and hilarious read (just take a look at the cover!), this book turns out emotional. Brie’s death, however surprising the cause is, is a shocking and sorrowful thing. Her father can’t accept her death and he’s obsessed to find the cause of her daughter’s death, even if it means abandoning his family. Jason is confused and lost, and I can tell that he’s feeling guilty of Brie’s death. I can’t hate any of the characters in this book, however wrong their decisions.

Sure, there were times when I frowned at Brie’s vengeful acts. It’s not easy for her to accept that she’s dead now, especially when everything around her world was perfect before her death. I can understand her confusion and anger perfectly. If you have a great life with all possibility in your future, wouldn’t you feel sad if you have to die in such young age? Brie is a completely relatable character. She’s only fifteen when she’s dead, so it makes sense that sometimes, she can be really egoistical and full of herself.

Other than the tearful part in this book, there are many funny lines and witty remarks thrown in the book. Patrick, Brie’s ghost partner-in-crime, is such an adorable and swoon-worthy character. He’s incredibly funny and he also plays really important part in the story. This book also got to surprise me in some parts, and the ending is really beautiful. I personally think that it’s a little too perfect for my taste, but I assure you, the ending really suits the story.

This is a lovely book and I’ll recommend this even for people who are no fan of sad story. The Catastrophic History of You and Me definitely crosses the line between fun and heartbreaking. 

“Love sucks, huh?” said Patrick.
 

I nodded. “Yeah. It does.”

 Website * Goodreads * Amazon * Book Depository 

I rated this book:

  Four cups of tea. Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply awesome. I love the tea flavor!  A strong recommendation.

Review: Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

3.5 stars

Six months after she loses her mom, Holly is cold and emotionally numb. This is her senior year and she just doesn’t care anymore about her life. Then she does the unthinkable: she loses her virginity to Paul, the popular guy she barely knows.

Assuming this to be one-night-stand, it’s a great shock for Holly when Paul persists on seeing her. Paul belongs to popular crowd and he already has a long-term girlfriend, a really sweet girl named Saskia. It seems strange that he even pays attention to Holly. At first, it’s easy to ignore Saskia and the guilty feeling of sleeping with somebody’s boyfriend. But then Holly becomes friends with Saskia, and eventually she realizes that the price she has to pay for her recklessness is too high.

When I first picked the book, I assumed that Nothing Like You is gonna be a light read. Boy, was I ever wrong. Nothing Like You is a sad book about overcoming grief and loss of a significant other. Yes, Holly does make bad decisions, yet I feel like I can understand the reasons. Her mother’s death has changed Holly, and she will never be the same Holly from junior year.

It breaks my heart that Holly seems to respect herself less. She is loved and cared by so many people but she just can’t feel that. Holly’s relationship with Nils, her one and only guy friend, is something that I hoped would be the one to heal her heart. Throughout the book, I kept hoping that Holly will come to her senses and realize that her world hasn’t shattered yet. And she will get better because time will heal every wound.

He tugged at my hair. “How come you never get sad, Holly? I think it’s weird you don’t ever get sad.”

“I do get sad.” I stood, dusting some dirt off my butt. “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” 

I rate this book: 

Four cups of tea. Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply awesome. I love the tea flavor!  A strong recommendation. 

Review : Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

 

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

How many secrets can there be at one school?

Hannah Baker killed herself two weeks ago. By pills. No one knows the truth about her. The reasons. Clay Jensen knows no better than everyone. Until he receives a shoebox-sized package, seven audiotapes inside. No return address.

Exciting, right? Maybe it’s from some secret admirer? So, out of curiosity, Clay press play to the first tape, and the voice comes off:

Hello, boys and girls. Hannah Baker here. Live and in stereo.

No. This must be a joke. A cruel joke.

I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.

Before Hannah died, she recorded a bunch of tapes. Why? Is this some kind of twisted suicide note?

The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: You listen. Number two: You pass it on. Hopefully, neither one will be easy for you. When you're done listening to all thirteen sides--because there are thirteen sides to every story--rewind the tapes, put them back in the box, and pass them on to whoever follows your little tale.

No way. Clay hardly knew Hannah Baker. Well, he wanted to. He wanted to know her more than he had the chance. And he never had.

Clay is everyone’s favorite guy. He’s nice, polite, and never bothering somebody’s issue. The problem is, he likes Hannah Baker. Hannah, the new girl at school whose reputation ahead her presence in town. Hannah is pretty, yes. Too pretty for her own good even. Rumors are her bestfriend, and nobody ever tried to look beyond these rumors. No one ever had. No one ever will.

But with these tapes, people in the list get a chance to see Hannah’s thoughts. To put themselves in her shoes, and learn the dark, shattering secrets of Hannah. The snowball effect which resulted in Hannah’s surrender. Because there are reasons. People who help her make the terrible decision. People who abandon her asking-for-help signs.

I could have helped you, Hannah. But when I tried, you pushed me away.

I can almost hear Hannah's voice speaking my next thought for me. "Then why didn't you try harder?"

See the world differently. Maybe there’s someone suffering near you. They don’t ask for help clearly. But they try. They make signs. And now it’s your job. Will you let them go… or will you offer help?   

I rate this book:

Four maples! Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply awesome! I love the tea flavor! A strong recommendation!

I love this book and cried in some part of it. I read this book in September 2010 and had posted the review on Goodreads. I plan to read The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, I post this review on blog. :)