Review and Giveaway: Made for You by Melissa Marr

Title: Made for You
Author: Melissa Marr
Publication date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins
Goodreads | Buy from The Book Depository

From Goodreads:
When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Made for You is well-known author Melissa Marr’s debut into contemporary fiction (albeit with a touch of paranormal), and I must say that it’s a stunning one! Emotional gripping and fast-paced, Made for You might be my favorite out of Marr’s novels.

We meet Eva Elizabeth Tilling-Cooper, heiress to giant winery and granddaughter of a minister. Out of nowhere, the sweet Southern belle suffers a hit-and-run. She’s considered lucky to be alive despite of broken bone, brain injury, and serious scar on her face. Nobody has a clue on the driver in the accident. When more girls fall victim to this ‘accidental’ hit-and-runs, Eva starts to wonder whether it’s actually accident at all. And the hallucination she has whenever she touches other people’s bare skin? It might not be hallucination at all. She might actually has ability to foresee people’s death. The ability might be the key thing Eva can rely on in order to save herself and people she loves from her obsessive killer…

I might not be Marr’s number one fan of her fantasy books, but I’m eager to jump on her future contemporary works! Made for You is certainly an exhilarating read, and I become more and more invested with the story the more I flip the pages. Despite of her lucky upbringing, Eva is not a snotty brat at all. She’s considerate and rational most of the time. Grace, Eva’s best friend, is very supportive in helping Eva coping with her harsh condition. She’s exactly what you need and wish from a friend! Nate and Eva’s romance is cute. I’m kinda glad it doesn’t take the front seat of the story however since I am more attached in the mystery.

One reason I might like this book more than Marr’s other works might be because of the use of first-person POV, rather than her usual third-person POV. I like first-person perspective of Eva, the killer, and sometimes Grace. All of them gives a little glimpse towards the story. The thoughts of the killer is very sickening anyway – can we please tone it down a little? It left me with bad taste in my mouth every time I read the killer’s perspective. If Marr does want to create a horrible, terrifying psycho, then I guess it really works!

All in all, Made for You is a terrific ride and one I’d recommend to fans of contemporary mystery. It’s interesting to see how wealth and family background can matter so much in a small Southern town. Makes me wishing to read more Southern tale! With strong plots, great characters, and neat writing, Made for You is a recommendation for fans of YA fictions with mystery.

None of it makes sense to me. Micki did nothing to me, and although Amy slept with Robert, that’s not reason enough to wish this on her. Neither of those things explain why the killer attacked me. I sit on the sofa trying not to think that someone wants me dead—someone who has now killed two girls I know.

 4 cups of tea!

Great mystery and wonderful character. We call it creeptastic, I guess? ;)

THE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is part of the tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Thank you for letting me joining the fun, Giselle and Melissa! :)

You can follow the tour HERE. :)

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publication date: June 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Goodreads | Buy from The Book Depository

From Goodreads:
Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask anybody.  Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the "slut stall" in the girls' bathroom: "Alice had sex in exchange for math test answers" and "Alice got an abortion last semester." After Brandon dies, the rumors start to spiral out of control. In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students tell all they "know" about Alice--and in doing so reveal their own secrets and motivations, painting a raw look at the realities of teen life. But in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu, exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

A read along with lovely Pooja @ On Books! . It was a great pleasure to compare notes with you, hun! Check out her wonderful review HERE.

3.5 stars

Everyone knows that Alice Franklin is a slut.

She has slept with two guys in one night in someone else’s bedroom during someone else party. Her sexting caused the super famous and gorgeous Brandon Fitzsimmons aka the king of Healy High died in car accident. She had abortion not long after, and who knows whose baby belongs to! Alice Franklin gets a stall dedicates just for her – slut stall – where girls can write all the things they believe Alice has done. Because Alice Franklin is a slut, and everybody knows it.

But is she really?

The Truth About Alice is a powerful book about what rumors can actually do. Events in this book remind me of snowball effect. Things roll and they get worse and worse. Told in multiple perspectives from the famous cheerleader to finally Alice herself, this book was a short and enjoyable ride for me.

I love the multiple POVs the most in this book. It was awesome to get to know Alice from different characters first and slowly unveil why each of them keep their own Alice-related secrets. Some of those secrets actually took me aback, like Kelsie’s secret. Kelsie, the ex-best friend of Alice and a social climber, is one of the most intriguing character I’ve ever met. She’s horrible and made me so mad, but she was an interesting character to read.

I think the only underdeveloped character in this book might be Brandon, the dead guy. Every character describes Brandon as gorgeous, super funny, a bit of jerk but still so awesome, and it ticks me off a little because he’s not the person I see from the pages. If the author wants readers to have some sympathy to him, I think it would be better to show more humane side of Brandon.

While reading this book, I was also driven to think of the double standard in our society. While Alice is treated like a slut for allegedly sleeping with two guys in one night, Brandon with his never ending conquest of girls is treated like God instead. I think hypocrisy is one of the greatest themes in this book – people keep saying one thing while they act different.

All in all, The Truth About Alice was a thought-provoking book with great narrations. I also love the glimpses of hope in this book despite of how bad the situation is. While this book is not entirely flawless, it’s certainly worth reading.

The hard truth is I think I knew we weren’t going to be friends anymore the day after Elaine’s party when I read that text about her and Brandon and Tommy Cray. It sounds terrible and shallow and not at all like something the Kelsie Sanders I knew in Flint would have said, but I’ve spent too many years sitting alone in the cafeteria, and I just can’t handle doing it again.

And I won’t.

3 cups of tea!

A quick and enjoyable ride.

Review: The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Title: The Art of Lainey
Author: Paula Stokes
Publication date: May 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Goodreads | Buy from The Book Depository


From Goodreads:
"A satisfying and sweet story." -Publishers Weekly

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

The Art of Lainey opens up in quite a dramatic way: Lainey breaking up with her boyfriend Jason in public, precisely in her own father’s coffee shop with everyone else watching. After spending days tearing up about the break-up, Lainey decides that Jason must have made mistake and resolves to do whatever it takes to get him back. With the help of ancient Chinese war strategy book, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Lainey and her friends/comrades create strategy to get their exes back. Who says that love is not war?

I am in the mood for something short and sweet, and The Art of Lainey comes in handy! It’s fun and cute. The plotline might be predictable, but we’ll still want to know the road to happy ending! Lainey may come off as very typical of teenager at first – ‘oh nooo my life ends after he breaks up with me’ case – but she has some great qualities that make me admire her. She’s very loyal to the people she loves, which is simply awesome. ♥

Lainey goes on a series of fake-dates with her childhood friend/colleague in work/comrade in getting back the exes thing, Micah, and their fake dates are just entertaining! Nothing beats chemistry between the two people who know each other from a long time. They banter back-and-forth, but you can feel that they actually suit each other. Micah has bad boy look with Mohawk and tattoos, but he’s actually a normal guy who is kind and thinks of his family above else.

If you’re looking for cute summer read, The Art of Lainey can be your perfect choice. I love the references to The Art of War. I may have taken some notes from it. *wink wink* This book reminds me of Disney movies sometimes, specifically She’s the Man – Lainey being a soccer goddess and having a bad boy hero with kind heart around – and I’d love to watch the movie version of this book. Give The Art of Lainey a go, and get ready to have your heart fluttered!

I stare at my tan fingers curled inside Micah’s pale ones as we head back into the stadium tunnels. I’m a little sweaty, and so is he, but it doesn’t feel nearly as weird as I thought it would to hold hands with another guy. Jason used to squeeze too hard sometimes and practically crush my fingers, but Micah’s grip is firm and relaxed. Kind of nice. It feels almost normal, really. Like, in another world, the two of us could actually be on a date.

4 cups of tea!

Cute and fun! Recommended for fluffy reading.

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Publication Date: May 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Goodreads

From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
- Mary Oliver

Valedictorian Parker Frost stumbles across a journey of the most famous dead girl in her town, Julianna Farnetti. Parker know she shouldn’t read what she is not supposed to, but she can’t resist herself and soon she is wrapped in the story of Julianna, Shane, and Orion. The story that is different from what she has always heard of the golden couple Julianna and Shane. When there is possibility that Julianna might be still alive, along with her best friend Kat and her longtime crush Trevor, Parker goes on a road trip to find the supposedly-dead girl and make things right.

I love Frost’s poems, and with snippets of his poems in the beginning of each chapter, it is hard not to like this book. And road trip! We all have soft spot for road trip books, don’t we?

Golden has all of the important ingredients. Neat plot, likable set of characters, and just the right mix of drama and Frost’s poems. Add a spice of mystery, and voila! A wonderful friend to accompany you in the afternoon is ready. The only problem I have with this book is it feels anticlimactic. There are conflicts, yes, but it is resolved in such a peaceful manner that I didn’t feel the thrill at all. It has all the buildups, but no crackling fire. I guess the lack of climax is mainly caused of my distance to the main character. Parker is likeable, but sometimes I feel like she keeps readers at the arm’s length.

While I have some problems with Golden, it’s still a wonderful book that I’m sure many others can relate with. Parker’s journey of self-discovery is something that is worth reading since it is something that we have gone through in one phase of our lives. Then maybe, like Parker, we can be brave enough to take the road less traveled.

My journal. Today I’ll seal it up and bring it to Mr. Kinney, and tomorrow, after graduation, I’ll get on a plane, and cross endless miles of land and sky, to begin the next chapter of my one wild and precious life. I don’t know where I’ll be ten years from now when my story comes back to me, but I hope that when I read it I can see that the road I chose really did make all the difference.


  

 4 cups of tea!

A great choice for afternoon reading.

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Review: Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

Title: Afterparty
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Goodreads


From Goodreads:
Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother -- whose name her dad won't even say out loud. That's why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her...and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she's everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle.

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It's more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop...

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler's spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

 

“I made you and I could undo you in three minutes. Two online.”

Reading Afterparty is like watching a train wreck in front of my eyes. We know that things will go bad, like very bad , yet we can only watch it without doing anything.

Emma, the ultimate good girl, is the new girl in Latimer, school for the riches in California. She has trouble fitting in with the rest of the school, except with the other new girl, Siobhan. Siobhan is wild and borderline crazy, but she is the perfect best friend for the new Californian Emma. However, their friendship becomes more dangerous as Siobhan spins out of the control, and Emma can’t help but getting carried in. When lie becomes the second nature, sneaking out of night is a given, and her best friend becomes a stranger… Emma must confronts herself on the choices that she makes.

In the beginning of the book, we get a passage of fastforward Emma on the rooftop confessing to the readers that she just killed her best friend. I must give brownie point for Miss Stampler – what a brilliant way to open the book with a bang! Then we are introduced to Emma and Siobhan’s first meeting and the beginning of their toxic friendship. Peer pressure at its best.

Siobhan. You will wish that you’d never get into her bad list. Self-destructive and insane at times, it’s clear that Siobhan needs professional help. This girl is losing her grip and I can’t help but feel sorry for her sometimes. She tries to protect herself so bad by clinging onto promises with her friends, the ‘pacts’, and pretends that everything is a game. The queen of denial and self-destruct.

The characters are very well-thought, with their flaws, values, and imperfections. While I didn’t really connect with any of them, I did feel sympathy towards some of them. The main plot nicely progresses although the sub-plots didn’t really work for me. The whole drama with Emma’s extended family in Canada felt a bit pointless because there is no real resolution in the end. Personally, I feel that the story could do better with resolved subplots of the side characters, but I understand that the whole book intends to put spotlight on Emma and Siobhan’s friendship.

Fans of Go Ask Alice would love this book. Overall, what I enjoyed the most are the fun, strong voice of the main character and the original plots. If you go for Afterparty looking for excitement and crazy ride, I think you will have more luck with this book.

If things aren’t looking a whole lot better for both of us by the end of the year, we should jump off a tall building.”

“Sign me up.”

“You’re in,” she says. “Pact.”

 

 

 

 

 3 cups of tea!

 Love the crazy ride, but could be better.

 

 

 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publication Date: December 2010
Publisher: Speak
Goodreads

From Goodreads:
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 Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

4.5 stars

Oh sweetness! Fluffy in a good way, Anna and the French Kiss is the ultimate book for anyone looking for light reading. It’s just the right amount of sweet, funny, and hot French-British guy in one book! Sprinkle it with the Parisian setting, and mmm! Simply delectable!

Set in the lovely setting of Paris, Anna and the French Kiss told the story of Anna, an American girl who is transferred to France in her senior year. Paris is a great city, but short visit and living for one year are obviously different matters. However, Anna’s homesickness quickly disappears as she meets some new friends in School of America, especially the French guy with British Accent and US nationality, Étienne St. Clair. Anna totally swoons over Étienne, but Étienne already has a gorgeous, older girlfriend. Surely Anna won’t be stupid as to fall for Étienne despite of knowing it’s impossible… right?

I’m not good at summarizing the story so let’s forget the kinda-summary above. I think Anna and the French Kiss lives up to its hype. It’s not just a simple story about a girl and a guy going in circle before they finally confess their undying love to each other. It’s MORE than that. It’s also about adapting in a new environment with new set of culture and language, a guy’s struggle with his oppressed father and his dying mother, and friendship above love. And those issues, tackled gently without any cliché at all.

You will love Anna when you meet her – she’s quirky, smart, and fun in the most possible way. Étienne, of course, is the guy you’re supposed to fall in love with (like it’s the hardest thing to do, duh!). Étienne. *le sigh* The gorgeous French guy with brilliant mind and polite British accent. Very good hair and kind personality as well. Oh Étienne please just be human already.

Reading this book made me wish I could get into the story and join Anna and her friends in School of America. I only worry that when I go to Paris, it wouldn’t be as lovely as it’s portrayed in the book. For one thing, Perkins seems to gloss everything in Paris – everything seems much lovelier. The cafeteria, the shops, the way people dresses, even the strangers’ attitude. I’m sure that Paris is a wonderful city, but it just seems unrealistic that everything is much better in that city. Another thing, I won’t have a gorgeous, kind, funny French-British-American guy like Étienne showing me Kilometer Zero Paris or Shakespearean bookshop. Obviously my experience later won’t match with Anna’s.

All in all, Anna and the French Kiss was a very entertaining book and I would recommend to it to anyone ready to get their heart strings tugged by this romantic story. I like how clever Perkins tackled issues like family and friendship, and even tough ones like cancer. I don’t want the book to end. We need more Anna, Étienne, and Paris! (Of course, there are cameo appearances of Anna and Étienne in the next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door, but no Paris! Boohoo.) I want so, so bad to book the next plane to Paris after I read this book. Anna and the French Kiss, with its great storyline, fun characters, and gorgeous setting, will definitely capture your heart.

Words are engraved around it: POINT ZÉRO DES ROUTES DE FRANCE.

“Mademoiselle Oliphant. It translates to ‘Point zero of the roads of France.’ In other words, it’s the point from which all other distances in Frances are measured.” St. Clair clears his throat. “It’s the beginning of everything.”

I look back up. He’s smiling.

“Welcome to Paris, Anna. I’m glad you’ve come.”

4.5 cups of tea!

A feel-good book that will cheer you up.

Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication Date: June 2012 (first published May 2004)
Publisher: Speak
Goodreads


 Expect the unexpected.

Macy's got her whole summer carefully planned.

But her plants didn't include a job at Wish Catering. And they certainly didn't include Wes.

But Macy soon discovers that the things you expect least are sometimes the things you need most.

There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.

Macy is perfect. She has perfect hair, perfect grades, perfect boyfriend – perfect everything. Maybe her mother works too much, but of course they’re fine, just fine. Her boyfriend, Jason, may seem detached sometimes, but of course they’re fine. It has been one and a half year after her father’s sudden death, and Macy is doing well. She’s fine just fine, thank you.

Is she really?

The Truth About Forever is a book about characters dealing with the sudden death of a loved one, but it is more than that. It is a book about reaching out, accepting mistakes, and following your heart. The Truth About Forever celebrates flaws, and with its lovely storyline, three-dimensional characters, and just the right amount of drama, it’s hard not to love this book.

Truth be told, I think Sarah Dessen follows the same pattern in her stories. Girl having problem – girl meets boy – girl becomes friends with boy – girl runs away – girl having reflection moment – girl confesses to the boy – happily ever after. I might sound a bit snarky here, but really. I love her works. She is a wordsmith and the word she spins turns into gold. Moreover, her characters are so alive I could practically hear their breathing when I was reading her books. I don’t have any problem getting along with any character in this book. The pacing near the ending of the book seems a bit too slow for me, but maybe it’s just me who can’t wait to see Macy and Wes together. The ending is really worth the wait, though. *insert dreamy sigh* Reaching the lovely ending, I feel so rewarded having suffered through all the Macy-Wes misunderstandings.

This is the only YA book I’ve ever read that features characters working in catering business. I like that they’re constantly faced with shrimp chaos or meatball crisis – it gives the story a certain charm. My only complaint about this book might be the slow pacing near the ending and the fact that I was able to predict the story halfway through the ending. But if you’re a fan of Contemporary, or in search of a book with light theme and gorgeous writing to spend your time, The Truth About Forever will be a perfect choice.

We just sat there for a second, none of us talking. In the middle of the clearing, someone was playing with a flashlight, the beam moving across the trees overhead, showing bits and pieces of branches and leaves, a glimpse here and there, then darkness again. I knew that in the last few minutes everything had changed. I'd tried to hold myself apart, showing only what I wanted, doling out bits and pieces of who I was. But that only works for so long. Eventually, even the smallest fragments can't help but make a whole.

4 cups of tea!

Perfect for light reading. ♥

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title:  Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication date: September 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

From Goodreads:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

 By the time I reached page 82, I’ve already fallen in love with Levi. (well, that was quick)

If you’ve read any book by Rainbow Rowell, you are instantly my best friend. It seems that she has a special book recipe which is absolutely delectable! The combination of awesome writing + relatable characters + swoonworthy hero is simply explosive. I wonder where I can order my own hero from Rainbow Rowell’s books. *wink wink*

Fangirl is a story about Cath, a freshman in college who is anxious about starting in a new place with new set of people and rules. Cath doesn’t enjoy new situations, and she has hard time adapting at first. Especially since her twin sister, Wren, has thought that it’s best for them to separate sometimes. Lonely and unmotivated, Cath dedicates her days and nights to writing fanfic about her favorite series, Simon Snow. Cath’s fanfic, Carry On, Simonis immensely popular to the point that it gets thousand of hits every day. Cath thinks she can live on her fanfic, not caring about her study or trying to make any friends in university, but well, maybe it’s not so bad to actually let her roommate’s-probably-boyfriend-probably-not invades her space sometimes. And maybe, just maybe, it won’t be so bad not to spend the night writing fanfic. But is Cath actually ready for change?

Aww, Cath. Before I started reading this book, I read reviews and saw lines raving about how Cath is dangerously relatable. And well, she really is! She is not a perfect heroine and that is perfectly awesome ♥. Cath, with her insecurity, her uneasiness with large crowd, and her tendency to pretend that problem doesn’t exist is just very mundane. It’s her way of protecting herself from pain and threats from other people. It’s so easy to identify yourself with her – she’s that real.

Story development I really appreciate from Eleanor and Park to Fangirling is the stronger parts for supporting casts in this book. Reagan – you go girl! I love Reagan’s bluntness and how she is harshly caring. That sound exactly contradictory, yes, but that’s Reagan, Cath’s roommate, for you. And those who know me well enough must have guessed correctly who stole my heart: Levi. Levi, the Reagan’s-probably-boyfriend-probably-not, is so sweet and enthusiastic that you can’t help but love him.

“I think there’s a baby in the corner you forgot to kiss,” Cath said to him.

“Where’s a baby?” His eyes perked up.

All in all, I enjoyed Fangirl immensely. It is a wonderful book with lots of stories inside. Even more stories than you can get from a series. The Simon Snow snippets are really entertaining as well. They make kind of wish that there was actually a Simon Snow series. Remember to send me a note when you’ve finished reading this book, okay? Then we can hang out for your preferred drink and discuss which one we love more – Park from Eleanor and Park or Levi from Fangirl. ;)

“Deviant.” He raised an eyebrow. Levi’s eyebrows were much darker than his hair. Too dark, really. And arched. Like he’d drawn them on.

Cath felt herself smile, even though she was trying to hold her lips and face still. She shook her head, then looked down at her food and took a big bite.

Levi scraped more eggs and hash onto her plate.
 

4 cups of tea!

 I love the writing and how real this book seems to me. Wonderful read!

 

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publication Date: December 2006 
Publisher: Speak
Goodreads  

From Goodreads:
Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

3.5 stars

"I go to seek a Great Perhaps."

Miles “Pudge” Halter is obsessed with people’s last words. In search of “A Great Perhaps”, Miles transferred to Culver Creek, a boarding school in Alabama. In Culver Creek, he soon becomes friends with a number of people from different backgrounds. There are the Colonel, Miles’s roommate who is very smart and loves to play prank; Takumi, a Japanese guy whom Miles is not really friends with until after; Lara, a beautiful Romanian girl whom Miles has his first sexual experience with; and finally Alaska, a free soul whom no one in Culver Creek really understands.

Soon enough, Miles’ life is filled with piled assignments, prank planning, and new habits like smoking and drinking. It doesn’t take long for Miles to fall for Alaska. The smart, beautiful, sharp-tongued, self-destructive Alaska. But Alaska plays games, and there are so many layers covering her true feeling. And after, nothing will ever be the same.

Reading Looking for Alaska, I was quite baffled by how different it is from my first John Green’s book The Fault in Our Stars. Both books are amazingly written and filled with brilliant conversations, yet the two books have their own charms that will appeal to very different kind of readers. I might have enjoyed TFiOS more, but Looking for Alaska with its fabulous characters, the thought-provoking questions, and the witty humor it brings also holds a special place in my heart.

Looking for Alaska brings up tastefully some heavy issues that made me stop and think for a moment. The complexity of the characters blew me away. As much as my divergence with some characters’ behavior, I couldn’t bring myself to dislike any of them. This book is an either love/hate book, and I’m glad (and so relieved) to say that I liked this book. Thought-provoking and brilliantly written, Looking for Alaska may end up as your next favorite book.

"Sometimes I don't get you," I said.

She didn't even glance at me. She just smiled toward the television and said, "You never get me. That's the whole point."

 3. 5 cups of tea!

An engaging story with gorgeous writing. 

 

Review: Easy by Tamara Webber

Title: Easy
Author: Tamara Webber
Publication Date: May 2012 (ebook edition)
Publisher: Berkley Trade, Penguin USA
Goodreads

From Goodreads:
Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

I told myself, this isn’t happening. My boyfriend of three years was not breaking up with me so he could bang coeds with shameless abandon.

Imagine your boyfriend want to break up with you just because he wants to do other girls while he’s young. What a [insert your favorite swearing here to call him]. That’s exactly what happened to Jacqueline. Her high school sweetheart and member of the popular crowd, Kennedy, broke up with her for the exact reason and now Jacqueline is nothing but a miserable wretch in her college.

Jacqueline doesn’t even want to go to this college – she just followed Kennedy when she applied here. Now she’s miserable, her grades are falling, and she has no friend outside of her Kennedy circle. Until her professor told her to do some tutoring with her assistant, Landon, and although the tutoring sessions are only held online, Jacqueline’s grades do improve. She also has some kind of friendship with Landon, although she has never met him in person.

Another guy attracts her attention – Lucas, the guy with bad boy looks that saved her earlier. Lucas, with his piercing gaze and mysterious attitude, perks Jacqueline’s interest. But Jacqueline doesn’t know, that Lucas and Landon might have the same secret, the secret they’ve been trying to keep from her…

Since characters are always my favorite aspect in a book, I will start with the characters in this book (whom I’m truly, wholly in love with). Jacqueline, high-five, girl! I’m so, so proud of her in the end. Jacqueline started off as a sad and miserable heroine, but she ended up becoming a heroine to look up to. She’s smart, she’s level-headed, and the most important, she knows what to believe and what choices to make. Her character development is very realistic, and it’s nice to have a heroine who doesn’t let romance interrupts with her dreams. Even after she finally has the happy ending she truly deserves.

Landon! Oh my gosh, there’s just something special with the guy who can bring smile to your face with his texts only, right? I love his witty replies, the way he teases Jacqueline, and his smart humor. I sure can’t blame Jacqueline for getting attracted to a guy whom she hasn’t ever met. And awwwww, Lucas. He might be the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. He asks permissions for everything, and he would never force you to do anything you don’t want to. Plus, he’s an artist! Lucas seems like bad boy you usually meet, but actually there are many things going beyond the surface. I assure you, there’s nothing like typical love triangle in this book.

I love this book so much, and I really wish that more people would read it. Even if you didn’t just endure a nasty breakup like Jacqueline, this book is a must-read. It’s smokin’ hot, it’s sweet, and it’s smile-inducing…. it’s Easy.

As for being somewhere you’re not supposed to be – maybe you’re here for a reason, or there is no reason. As a scientist, I lean toward the latter. Either way, you’re off the hook. You made a decision; now you make the best of it. That’s all you can do, right? On that note, I’m off to study for a statistical mechanics quiz. Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to prove scientifically that your ex isn’t worthy of you, and you’re exactly where you should be.

LM

4 cups of tea!

This is such a lovely book! I still have a smile in my face when I remember this. :)