{Review} Cured by Bethany Wiggins

Cured
by Bethany Wiggins
Series: Stung #2
Pages: 320
Release Date: March 4, 2014
by Walker Childrens

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There is no “perfect” cure.

Jacqui still remembers what it was like before the honeybee virus destroyed her world. Before children turned into beasts and men desperate for power became raiders. Before she had to disguise herself as a boy. And before her brother, Dean, left and enver came back.

Jacqui asks Fiona and Jonah Tarsis to help find Dean, since he disappeared while leading their mother to safety. They immediately agree, and together they all quickly set out—along with Fiona’s boyfriend, Bowen—in search of their loved ones. But Jacqui soon discovers that they’ve kept a very dangerous secret from her: they have the cure.

The cure that could save those infected with the virus. If they can keep it safe.

With their survival hanging in the balance, Jacqui and her friends must restore their families, preserve the cure, and fight for the chance to rebuild their shattered world. 

{Review} What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

What Happened to Goodbye
by Sarah Dessen
Pages: 402
Release Date: April 9, 2013 (this edition)
by Speak (an imprint of Penguin)

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A new day. A new place. A new life. In the past few years, McLean has pretended to be so many different people that she hardly remembers who she really is anymore. The adorable guy next door might be able to help her figure it out. But is she ready for it?

{Review} Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent
by Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
 Pages: 525
Release Date: May 1, 2012
by Katherine Tegen ( an imprint of Harper)

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Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

 

**SPOILERS**

 

I can't really put into words what I'm feeling right now.  This book was something, let me tell you.  So much better than the first book.

There is just something about this book and series that demands to be read.  You are sucked into the world and you don't want to leave.  This book was miles better than Divergent.  The first thing is the story line.  So much more happened in this book than in the first book.  There was a purpose to this book, whereas I felt like Divergent was kind of pointless.  But this story was fast-paced, complex, and interesting.  That being said...there were still some issues.

Something that can be easily messed up in a book with such a fast story and many escapes is the escapes are too easy.  I did find that that happened a few times in the book [SPOILER: most noticeably when Tris is captured by Eric and she's with a group of other Divergent next to an elevator block (pg 193) and Tris stabs Eric then starts to try to escape.  There are traitor Duantless around and they hold guns that shoot a gas that knocks out everyone but Divergent.  So Tris stabs Eric and LUCKILY the only guns the traitor Dauntless have is the ones that have the knock-out gas...which is stupid because obviously that won't work on any enemy in the room because Tris and co are Divergent.  SO WHY THE HELL WOULND'T THE TRAITOR DAUNTLESS HAVE REAL GUNS?!  Because they didn't have real guns Tris and the other Divergents were able to escape ] but other than that one event and a few others I felt like the escapes were very well done and well-staged as well.

However I felt like Veronica Roth treated the reader like a child.  I consider myself to be pretty smart and quick to catch on, so when a big thing happens in this book I think it through and figure out what it means and what impact it has.  But Roth has to write this huge revelation scene then later go back and explain it.  Readers are pretty good at figuring out things and don't need to be babied with information and have it explained to them.  This happened at least twice and just kind of annoyed me.  One example:[SPOILER: when Tris and Four and company are all with the Dauntless and they're taunting Four because he's “scared” of his father.  So Four is like “This has got to stop” then he goes and punches his dad.  Now I figured out immediately why he did this, but for some reason Roth felt the need to spell it out like her readers could never figure it out. ]

Other than that, pretty much everything else about this book was awesome.  It was a very addictive, enjoyable book, which is why I gave it 4 stars.  As said in my review of Divergent, I was not very impressed with how Roth [SPOILER: slipped in the war in the last 50 pages of the book.  But she developed the war very well in this book and I was very impressed with her comeback.  She kind of did the same kind of bad staging for the next book in this book but she developed it more before the ending so it worked out. ] I still would really like the action scenes to be explained better because from her mediocre descriptions I can't picture a scene.

There were several twists in this book that were like WHERE THE HECK DID THAT COME FROM?!  I have to give Veronica Roth credit for staging things in such a way that later events made perfect sense.  Some things I guessed [SPOILER: like Peter helping Tris escape when she gives herself to Jeneanne ] but other I didn't see coming at all [SPOILER: LIKE CALEB FREAKING BETRAYING HER! ]

 Also, that ending was absolutely crazy.  There was so much going on in that ending and it was so thrilling and crazy.  And OMG THAT CLIFFHANGER!

Now let's talk about the characters.  If you guys remember, I wasn't a huge fan of Tris (actually I hated her) in the first book.  But in this book I grew to like and respect her.  She is super messed up after what happened in the first book and she is much more vulnerable.  But in this book she is emotionally and mentally damaged and she becomes a much deeper, darker character.  I liked that we got to see the vulnerable side of her and it made her seem more human and definitely made her a more likable character.  Plus there wasn't all this shit about how she has to pretend to be weak like there was in the first book, so that helped.

However, I hated Four.  I never really liked him in the first place.  Unlike in the first book, I didn't imagine him as Theo James.  Four is just a very boring, underdeveloped character, even though we learned a bit more about him in this book.  But he was so annoying!  He wants Tris to tell him everything but doesn’t want to tell her anything.  That's not how a relationship works, man!  He shunned her and even when she was hurting and crying and crushed he just assumed “she was fine.”  Come on man, “find your humanity!” (OH YEAH TANGLED QUOTE!  I watch that movie way too much).  So I didn't enjoy the romance at all.

Honestly I'm scared for this next book.  [SPOILER: Roth killed off a few more loved characters in this book (Marlene and Lynn, and of course Jenneane even though I hate her) ] so I'm scared to see what she does in the final book *bites nails*.

 

 





4 stars

{Review} Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

Manor of Secrets
by Katherine Longshore
Pages: 320
Release Date: January 28, 2014
by Point (an imprint of Scholastic)

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The year is 1911. And at The Manor, nothing is as it seems . . .

Lady Charlotte Edmonds: Beautiful, wealthy, and sheltered, Charlotte feels suffocated by the strictures of upper-crust society. She longs to see the world beyond The Manor, to seek out high adventure. And most of all, romance.

Janie Seward: Fiery, hardworking, and clever, Janie knows she can be more than just a kitchen maid. But she isn't sure she possesses the courage -- or the means -- to break free and follow her passions.

Both Charlotte and Janie are ready for change. As their paths overlap in the gilded hallways and dark corridors of The Manor, rules are broken and secrets are revealed. Secrets that will alter the course of their lives. . . forever.

*A copy was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*

 

A complex, fast-paced, impossible story is not what you would expect from a historical fiction book.  But that was what this one had.  I have to say, I was very impressed with it.  The setting and situation were very well explained to I got the full picture pretty quick, and man was it dismal.  Everyone was unhappy in this book and as I was reading I was trying to figure out how Katherine Longshore was going to make it right.  But she staged everything in such a way that when she did make it right, it made perfect sense.  The story line and plot was very complex and interesting, and the story moved very fast.  There were a lot of different elements to this book, romance, intrigue, drama...you get the idea.  I liked the 2 POVs in this book.  When having 2 POVs there is the danger of one being less interesting, but in this book they were both equally gripping and it really showed the difference in how Charlotte and Janie lived.  The ending was absolutely awesome and definitely gives a new meaning to “fairytale ending”.

The characters in this book were great.  Charlotte and Janie were very well developed and you got to know them very well.  Charlotte is trapped in her life and she wants to rebel, but can't.  She was a pathetic character in the beginning but over the course of the book you can see her grow and become stronger.  I really loved Janie's spunk and attitude, and her selflessness.  I also really like Henry and Andrew Broadhurst – he's so sweet, though I found it a little convenient that he was so unconventional.

All in all, a fantastic historical fiction book that managed to be gripping and interesting throughout.

 

4 stars

 



{Review} Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Perfect Ruin
by Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Internment Chronicles #1
Pages: 356
Release Date: October 1, 2013
by Simon & Schuster

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On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil. Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review*

After reading the Chemical Garden trilogy I had average expectations for this book, but I actually really enjoyed it.  The writing was very good, and I liked how the story line flowed perfectly, the romance and society issues working very well together.  The idea was very good, in my opinion, and the world building and explanations were very well done.  However, I did feel like some things were stolen from other books, [SPOILER: like people being killed at age 75 Matched  or Stung  and being betrothed to someone from a young age (I think that was Matched too, but this one is okay really because that happens in a ton of books) ].  But dystopian books are so over-done these days that they all seem the same.  I really liked how the romance was shaped in this book, and the action was very interesting and thrilling, and there were parts in the book where I was completely engrossed.  The plot twists were crazy and I didn’t see them coming.  Also the ending set up a second book really perfectly, and it feels like the story is only just now beginning.

I really liked this cast.  Like I mentioned before, I liked how the romance was shaped.  [SPOILER: What I mean by that is Basil and Morgan are betrothed, and I was expecting Morgan to fall in love with someone else and leave Basil, but I’m really glad that she stayed with him because he seems like a really great guy. ] Basil was a really great character and a really nice guy.  He was sweet, smart, obviously loved Morgan, and was a strong love interest.  I also liked Morgan, because she was a strong character and defied the world she was in and was spirited and independent.

All in all, I really did enjoy this book, and I loved how this book ended and set up the second book perfectly.  I am expecting great things from this series, and this was a great way to kick it off.

4 stars

{Review} Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil
by Wendy Higgins
Series: Sweet Evil #1
Pages: 453
Release Date: May 1, 2012
by HarperTeen

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Embrace the Forbidden. What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

The first thing you notice about this book is obviously the cover.  I absolutely love this cover, and it fits perfectly with the book.  Yes, this book is about angels.  BUT!  It is so unlike any angel book I’ve ever read!  It is so original, and the spin on angels is so different, I couldn’t help loving it.  Yes, it took some getting used to, but once I got over the fact that at times it was a bit cheesy, I really enjoyed the idea.  I liked how Higgins did these huge info dumps throughout the book, and how she worked them into the story so that they weren’t out of place or boring.  The writing was very good, and I loved her descriptions and character building.  The story line was very interesting, and didn’t go like I expected it AT ALL!  [SPOILER: I totally expected Kaiden and Anna to try and overcome the fact that they couldn’t be together, but I was so sad when they didn’t end up together.  ]  The staging was very good, and the sexual tension between Kaiden and Anna made the book so interesting.  Also, that ending was nuts!  Not at all what I was expecting, but really great.

Let’s just start of with Kaiden.  Now, Wiggins actually wrote in the book that his name is pronounced Ka-i-y-den, the Kai pronounced like “Thai”.  But I just couldn’t read his name like that, so I just call him Kay-den.  Whoops.  Anyway, let’s just get it out there that I FREAKING LOVE THIS MAN!  God damn it he’s sexy.  It’s fictional boys like these that are just ruining my life because I know I can never find someone like them.  Ugh.  But oh hot damn was this guy attractive.  I just loved this quote:

Wowza.

He was smokin’ hot.  As in H-O-T-T hot.  I’d never understood until that moment why girls insisted on adding an extra T.  This guy was extra-T worthy.

But he was also a really great, nice guy, despite his “job”, and he really cared about Anna.  Anna I thought was a really great main character, and I loved seeing her grow over the course of the story.

All in all, this book was highly enjoyable (mostly because of Kaiden) and I really can’t wait to read the next book, especially after that crazy ending.

3.5 stars

{Review} City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels
by Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #4
Pages: 424
Release Date: April 5, 2011
by Margarte K. McElderry Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

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he Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one. When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Originally I wasn't going to finish this book. But then I got some comments saying that it got better, so I finished it. And really liked it.  I was kind of on the fence about whether or not I liked that Cassandra Clare added 3 more books to a series that, it looked to me, had wrapped up perfectly in book 3.  I wasn’t going to finish this book, or the rest of the series, until a commenter said that [SPOILER: Sebastian came back ], and after that I was sold.  At this point in the series, the Shadowhunter world is so complex and well explained that I feel like if I went to New York I would totally find Jace and Clary.  The writing, I’ve noticed over the course of the series, is very good, but at times I feel like it’s a bit dense, as in Clare feels the need to explain things in great detail, and every little event, such as searching a building, has to be very precise, and sometimes when there’s a ton of action or a really cliffhangery part of the book, I just can’t read that boring description stuff.  So I do find myself sometimes skipping parts, but that really isn’t Clare’s fault because it’s just how I am and how I read.  So I’m not really complaining.  The Clace drama and also Simon’s drama was kind of annoying in the beginning (well actually Simon was annoying the whole book) but the Clace drama really made sense and added to the story.  The story really wasn’t going anywhere for the first half of the book until BAM holy shit [SPOILER: Lilith is raising Sebastian from the dead] and after that it’s just great.  AND OH MY FREAKING GOD THAT LAST PAGE, THAT LAST PAGE OF THE WHOLE BOOK FREAKING KILLED ME.  [SPOILER: What does it mean?!  Sebastian and Jace are connected now, so does that mean that Jace is controlled by Sebastian again and that Jace has demon blood now?!  Holy shit!  (please don’t actually answer those questions in the comments below lol I don’t want spoilers for the next book).  But OMG that completely floored me.]

Basically I’m in love with Jace.  Not kidding, I love him.  I even dream about him.  All night.  Yes.  My brother thinks I’ve gone insane, and he said that Jace is ruining my life.  WELL HE IS!  Jace is perfection.  I have never wanted a fictional character to be real as much as I want Jace.  I’M TELLING YOU GUYS UNLESS I CAN FIND A BLONDE, SEXY, HALF-ANGEL SHADOWHUNTER I’M GOING TO DIE ALONE!  And OMG have you guys seen Jamie Campbell Bower?!  HE IS PERFECTION!  God okay I need to stop.  Basically I love Jace so much it hurts.  It really does.

As for the other characters, I feel like with every book Clary becomes stronger and stronger.  I think she really grew in City of Glass so by this point she is a really great character.  And then you have the rest of the Shadowhunter gang, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus (I TOTALLY SHIP MALEC BY THE WAY), and, of course, Simon.  Who I no longer like.  He’s been kind of getting on my nerves for a while, but after this book I just don’t like him at all.  [SPOILER:  To me he came off as a jerk because he was dating both Isabelle and Maia, a werewolf.  I thought that was just really sleazy of him. ]

I am now fully invested in this series, and will most definitely finish it.  Jace is ruining my life, but oh well.

4 stars

{Review} Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot
by Amy Tintera
Series: Reboot #1
Pages: 365
Release Date: May 7, 2013
by HarperTeen

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Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation). Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Gosh, it’s so hard to start reviews sometimes.  I just don’t know what to say!  So I’ll just jump right in.  The idea for Reboots was really great, and I feel like Tintera finished off the great idea with a great love story, story line, and writing.  The romance and action swirled together perfectly, but to be honest the book seemed kind of pointless.  I would have liked a bit more world building and explanation about the relationship between Reboots and humans.  This book was kind of like Divergent for me, in that it was kind of pointless, and most of the book was focused on romance and training or initiation.  I did enjoy the story and the action and romance, and the ending especially, but the middle was just kind of a fill-in.  There weren’t any major twists and the story was just simple.  But enjoyable.

Even with the simple story, these characters were FREAKING AWESOME!  I loved Wren’s character.  She was so messed up, and I loved how Callum, the love interest, came in and changed her.  The romance was so well done, and it was so cute and beautifully built and grown.  I TOTALLY SHIP THEM!  Ship name: Wrallum.  Oh yeah!  Callum was a great love interest because he is the kind of guy that I like.  He was funny, cute, had a ton of personality, he was easygoing, but also very passionate about his beliefs, and very nice.  I loved Wren’s character because of how much she grew over the course of the story and developed and became more HUMAN.  [SPOILER: That was her problem for most of the book: she felt like she was too far gone and not human.  It was so heartbreaking to see her so sad over not being able to cry, but I loved how Callum came in and took care of her. ] This romance was just all-around perfect.

This is by no means a bad book.  It’s actually very enjoyable! I kind of loved it because of the romance mostly, but the story and ending is also very good, so I would definitely recommend picking this book up!

4 pink flowers

{Review} Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1
Pages: 387 (paperback edition)
Release Date: January 8, 2013 (paperback edition)
by Square Fish (an imprint of Macmillan)

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Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Having never read an alien book before this one, I was kind of apprehensive about reading this book because aliens don’t really appeal to me.  There was a lot of hype surrounding this book so I decided to give it a go afterall and ended up really enjoying it.  The writing was very good and engaging, an I loved how Meyer got right into the story.  The setting was very unique and the world building was amazing.  The idea for the society was very good and the explanation for the society was very well done.  I loved the humor at the beginning of the book and the staging and story line was very interesting.  The ending was just wow wow wow crazy!  Oh and just so you guys know, I TOTALLY GUESSED  the big twist at like 100 pages in.  [SPOILER: I knew there was a reason for Meyer to mention the long-lost-princess-of-an-alien-planet-that-was-supposed-to-be-dead-but-could-still-be-alive.  I just knew it.  It was really obvious staging, if I’m honest.  But I still enjoyed finding out if I was right.  Some of the twists I didn’t see coming though.  One was Cinder being Lunar.  Once I found that out I just knew she was the princess.  And then there was Doctor Erland being Lunar which completely blindsided me, and the staging for that was awesome.  It was when Cinder first came to the lab and she was going to hit him with a wrench but something stopped her, and I totally didn’t think about it again until the twist happened and then I was like “Ooohhhhhhh” so perks to Meyer for that one.  But, back to Cinder being Princess Selene, I was literally screaming at my book for it to just say what I already knew, that Cinder was the princess, and when it was finally confirmed I was like yelling and jumping around and yeah I was crazy.  I also guessed about the car crash actually being the fire haha. ] I’m just so freaking smart ;P

I kind of had a love/hate relationship with the characters in this book.  Cinder I really loved.  Her spunk and attitude and drive and strength made her a really great main character.  Kai...eh.  He was kind of an okay character, and it was really adorable to watch him fall for Cinder when he didn’t even realize it was happening.  But to be honest there was nothing amazing about him as the love interest.

Who on earth would have guessed that you could combine Cinderella, cyborgs, and aliens and make a cool book?  Well obviously Marissa Meyer did, and it was a pretty good book, and definitely one of the best ideas I’ve seen for a story in a while.  Can’t wait to read the sequel!!

4 pink flowers


What did you guys think of this book?  Leave your thoughts in a comment and we'll have a discussion! :)

{Review} The Elite by Kiera Cass

First off, I would just like to mention that I've decided to change my review style a bit.  I think that now (when I feel like it) I will actually be discussing the book instead of just giving a vague review.  So there will be spoilers.  But I think that by discussing the book I can actually give you guys a better review, and for those of you who have read the books that I review you can talk about it with me too.  And don't worry you guys that haven't read the books I'll be reviewing.  I will clearly mark off where there are spoilers, set the spoiler text to white so there is NO chance you will read anything by accident, and if you want to read the spoiler you just have to highlight where the text is so you can see it!
I'm trying to make my blog more open to my followers so you guys will feel like you maybe know me a bit better and won't hesitate to leave your thoughts about a book (whether you agree with my opinion or not) so we can discuss it. :)

Ok now on with the review!! :)

The Elite
by Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #2
Pages: 323
Release Date: April 23, 2013
by HarperTeen

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The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selece Selection.
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

This book is, by no means, a great work of literature that will forever be remembered.  But it IS a perfect summer read because it’s light, fluffy, but interesting at the same time.  I really enjoyed this story.  The writing was kind of meh in the beginning but then I started to really like it.  Sometimes the descriptions or events weren’t written very well, but I’ll cut Kiera Cass a bit of slack.  There was a ton of conflict and drama in this book and I couldn’t help but be completely riveted by it, even though I am STRONGLY Team Maxon (I despise Aspen).  I liked the twists and turns, and the staging, for the most part, even though there was one really bad event that was staged.  But, ignoring that, I thought the story line was really good.  [SPOILER: Also some of America’s decisions were really stupid (like the big one at the end where she proposes to eliminate the casts, which, honestly, I thought was a good idea) and then acts surprised when exactly what she wnted to happen happens.  Also I found it kind of annoying that every time America opened that diary and read it just HAPPENED to be something that helped the story line and the staging.]  To add to that, some of the things in this book weren’t exactly consistent.  Let me get this straight: America lives in a futuristic, dystopian world that has a king, queen, prince/princess, and you have to wear ball gowns and be eloquent…yet you have DJs.  I found that absolutely hilarious, but very interesting and cool at the same time because you don’t see that combination very often.  Or ever.  I absolutely LOVED the ending and how everything was cleared up love-triangle wise, and I have very high expectations for the final book.

[MINOR SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION: One thing that I noticed and felt like I had to mention was the similarity of this book to The Hunger Games.  You guys are probably thinking, “What the hell are you talking about?!  The Hunger Games is about 24 kids fighting to the death, and this book is about 35 girls trying to win a prince’s heart.”  But let me explain.

First off, both books are dystopians, and there is a love triangle.  There is a competition where people are eliminated (yes, in this book they’re just sent home, not killed).  But then you get more in depth.  In both books there is an uprising, and also there are Casts, otherwise known as Districts in The Hunger Games.  Then you have the Selected, otherwise known as Tributes (even though the methods for picking are different if I remember correctly).  Then you have the love triangle.  In The Selection, you have Maxon and Aspen.  In The Hunger Games, you have Peeta and Gale.  Maxon is basically Peeta, and Aspen is basically Gale.

Maxon and Peeta are both pampered, aren’t used to hard work, and have a better standing in society.  I also found both very weak and sometimes annoying (Peeta for all the Hunge Games books, but Maxon only for The Selection.  Also, Katniss didn’t really notice Peeta until the Hunger Games, just like America didn’t really notice Maxon until the Selection.

Aspen and Gale are both hard working, tough, and lower-standing people who Katniss/America knew before she/she went into the Hunger Games/Selection.

And then, for the grand finale (and I literally laughed at this one) there is a part of the world in The Elite that is called Panama, not at all to be confused with The Hunger Games setting, Panem.  Spelled differently, but pronounced basically the same way (minus the “aa” sound at the end).  I thought that was hilarious. ]

Now we get to the characters.  First off, let me just set the record straight.  I am 100000000% Team Maxon for life!  I hate Aspen with a passion (seriously, the dude’s a jerk) and I honestly don’t know why there is even any question which one America should pick.  But anyway.  [SPOILER: I don’t think there’s really going to be a love triangle with America, Maxon, and Aspen in the third book because the ending of this book kind of hinted that America was going to fight for Maxon.  So I’m guessing there’s going to be a love triangle between Maxon, America, Kriss, and possibly Celeste.  Interesting. ]  Just like in The Selection, I really liked America.  Usually that doesn’t really happen for me in love triangles, but I really liked her strength, spunk, and attitude.  [SPOILER: Plus, anytime I can feel myself kind of starting to dislike her I just think back to how she kneed Maxon in the groin in the first book and I love her again lol.  I like Maxon, I just think it was hilarious that she did that and Maxon still loves her. ]  I also like Maxon.  What should their ship name be?  Hmmm…maybe Amaxon.  Yes, I like that very much lol.  Anyway, Maxon really grew on me in this book.  I remember thinking he was weak and all in the first book, but after the ending of this book I really respected him and thought he was a strong character.  [SPOILER: Even though it really annoyed me that he was running around making out with all the other girls when he loved America.  And I know he had an excuse, but it was a really shitty one. ]  Should I even waste my time talking about Aspen?  After what he did to America in the first book I’ve despised him, and I have no intention of changing my mind.  I SHIP AMAXON FOREVER AND EVER!

Seriously, the endings of these books are killing me.  Both have been huge cliffhangers, but I think The Selection’s ending was more killer that this one.  This one made me really happy because I like the direction I would imagine it’s going.  GO AMAXON!

4 pink flowers

What did you guys think of this book?  Leave your thoughts in a comment and we'll have a discussion! :)

Young Adult Debut Promotions: The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...

Mindy Raf
And she will be doing an interview and giveaway!

The Symptoms of My Insanity

by Mindy Raf

Pages: 384

Release Date: April 18, 2013

by Dial (an imprint of Penguin)

Goodreads / Purchase

A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet debut full of wit, wisdom, heart, and a hilarious, unforgettable heroine. When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong. But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.

*A copy was provided by Penguin for review purposes*

A lough-out-loud, bittersweet debut full of wit, wisdom, heart, and a hilarious, unforgettable heroine.

Yep, that about describes this book.  End of review.

Just kiddinggggggg. ;P

This was such a fun, entertaining read!  The writing was really good, the idea was awesome, and the story line was interesting and engaging.  It was a very heartwarming story, but also had streaks of sad events and heartbreak.  I really loved the ending as well, and how it was a happy, satisfying one.

I have to say, I really enjoyed watching Izzy grow and develop over the course of this story.  She was such a lovable, believable, realistic character, and so in-tune with teenagers these days, that I think she is really inspirational and interesting.

I’m really sorry for the short review it’s just that I just finished reading the Hunger Games Trilogy and I’m still recovering and can’t quiet put into words what I’m thinking right now haha.

But, all in all, this was a very enjoyable, fun debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what Raf has in store for us in her next book!

4 pink flowers

Quotes:

I panic and perform spontaneous karate on their genitals.

“Izzy Skymen,” she says, her eyes still on my canvas, tilting her head to the side, “you’ve got some huge girl-balls!”

Author Interview:

1. Why did you decide to become a writer?

I think writing chose me. I grew up performing comedy and musical theater, but I was always writing my own sketches, stories, songs.

2. Who were your biggest influences?

Oh so many. I loved, and still love: Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Gilda Radnor, Amy Poehler, Nora Ephron, Judy Blume, Steve Martin, Carol Brunette.

3. Where do you like to write?

Super loud coffee shops, diners, &bars for drafting. Super quiet libraries, office buildings late at night, my apt for revising.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?

Drink coffee, disable wifi, listen to some music to get me in the right mood.

5. When and how did you get the idea for The Symptoms of My Insanity?

I’m not an outliner. I free write mostly to start. The first scene I wrote for Izzy (long before the idea of a book) was about a girl talking to a boy in a cafeteria about his cookie being raw and how he might get salmonella. I think that scene definitely jumpstarted Izzy and her world.

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

Yes, I’m working on a couple different things right now. Hope to be able to share details on them soon.

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Dark.

2. Cats or dogs?

Cats.

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?

Hardcover.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?

1. Movie?

Too many, too many. Um, I’m in a romantic comedy mood right now so: When Harry Met Sally.

2. Ice cream flavor?

Strawberry

3. Animal?

Cats

4. Actor and actress?

Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in “The Jerk.” Together, just the best!

6. Fictional character?

Miss Viola Swamp/Miss Nelson

Giveaway:

THE RULES:

~There will be 1 winner

~Giveaway ends on June 16, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.

~This giveaway is US/CAN


THE PRIZE:
A finished copy to one lucky winner!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get to know Mindy Raf:

Bio:

Mindy Raf is a writer, comedy performer, and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and grew up in a Detroit suburb right around here (visualize someone pointing to the inner part of their thumb). She has written for VH1 and CollegeHumor.com. The Symptoms of My Insanity is her first novel. 

Connect:

Goodreads | Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH MINDY FOR STOPPING BY!

The Dark Shore Blog Tour Stop

I am so super excited to be participating in The Dark Shore Blog Tour!  This is a huge honor!  I have a review for you guys today, so I hope you'll stick around and read it :)

The Dark Shore
by Kevin Emerson
Series: Atlanteans #2
Pages: 470
Release Date: May 21, 2013
by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of Harper)

Goodreads / Purchase

BEWARE THE GODS AND THEIR HORRORS. Owen and Lilly have escaped Camp Eden, but the next step on their journey to find Atlantis and protect it from Paul and Project Elysium involves crossing the perilous wastelands of a wrecked planet. And unlike in EdenWest, where bloody truths were kept hidden beneath the surface, out here the horrors live bright beneath the poisonous sun. With treachery at every turn, Owen has no choice but to bring his wounded clan to the dark shores of Desenna, a city built from the ashes of EdenSouth. Desenna's blood-soaked walls may hold the key to Owen's journey in the form of the third Atlantean as well as a deeper understanding of the true purpose of the Three, but there are also secrets lurking in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed, and once they rise, there may be no escape.
Filled with action, mind-bending twists, and powerful scenes of emotional and physical sacrifice, THE DARK SHORE takes readers on a journey to a question so great, even the gods have trouble answering it: What would you be willing to do, to save humanity from itself?

*A copy was provided by Harper for review purposes*

After a simply amazing start to this series, The Dark Shore had a lot to live up to.  While it wasn’t as amazing as The Lost Code, it was pretty darn close.  The idea for this whole series is extremely cool and imaginative.  Atlanteans and mythological gods.  Genius!  The writing was very good, as was the setting and world.  In the beginning of the book the story was really predictable and I could guess what was going to happen, but towards the middle and the end it got much more suspenseful and interesting.  The ending was really amazing, and there are a couple twists that you will NEVER see coming.

I really like this cast.  They’re just so awesome. Seven was a favorite of mine.  She was completely crazy and added a bit of humor and snark to the story.  Owen was an awesome main character.  He really developed over the course of the two books and I loved seeing him grown stronger and more confident.  Lilly and Leech were awesome characters to add to the mix, and all of them made for a perfect cast.

Since this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger I’m expecting a third book!  I really can’t wait to see what happens in the next book(s).  These characters are so awesome and fun, and the idea is so imaginative, I don’t want to leave the world!

4 pink flowers

Follow the Tour:

May 21: ForeverYoung Adult Guest Post: A (manic) Day from My Writing Calendar
May 22: ForeverYoung Adult: Review and Giveaway (Books 1 and 2!)

May 23: EMSReviews Books: Review and Giveaway (Books 1 and 2!)

May 28: BookYAReview: Review and Q&A

May 29: The Bookshelf Sophisticate : Review and GuestPost

May 31: Emily’s Crammed Bookshelf: Review and Interview

June 3: Synchronized Reading: Review and Guest Post

June 4: Katie’s Book Blog: Review and Interview

June 5: Justin's Book Blog: Review and Discussion Post

{Review} Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity
by Kim Harrington
Series: Clarity #1
Pages: 256
Release Date: February 1, 2012 (paperback edition)
by Point (an imprint of Scholastic)

Goodreads / Purchase

Don't close your eyes. Except when the truth is too dark to bear. Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case -- but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother -- who has supernatural gifts of his own -- becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

*A copy was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*

Excitement?  In Eastport? Nay!

For a relatively small book, I must say that this was one of the most interesting I’ve read in a while.  I loved how Harrington explained the setting of the novel and introduced the characters and the idea smoothly, and how she moved forward with the story line right away.  It was a very intriguing mystery, and I didn’t have a guess at who was the murderer.  Sometimes I find in murder mysteries the staging is a little too obvious, or the motive isn’t a very good one, but this book didn’t suffer from either of those flaws.  The staging and story line was very good, and I liked how Harrington had the idea to make Clarity a physic.  Also, the motive was a completely believable one.  I really loved the humor in this book as well.  It added a fun aspect to an already pretty dark book.  The ending was thrilling and interesting, and there was still a lot left to be answered.

Really the only thing that I found wrong with this book was the romance.  I don’t understand why Clarity would be attracted to Gabriel.  To me, Gabriel was a jerk.  Even after he explained his issues I didn’t like him.  He insulted Clarity, tried to tear her down, ha no respect for her, and was just an all-around jerk.  Sometimes it’s good to have those kinds of people in books, but as bad guys, not boyfriends.  Even though he messed up, I was rooting for Jason, Clarity’s cheating boyfriend.  Now, I realize that I really shouldn’t be rooting for him, but it’s explained in the book, and compared to Gabriel, Jason isn’t a bad guy.  Clarity’s attraction to Gabriel was the only thing I found wrong with her.  To me she was a very strong, spirited character, and I loved her confidence, spunk, and the fact that she didn’t care what people thought.

This book was a simple, fun mystery, full of plot twist and excellent writing and staging, along with a spunky main character.  There are a ton of unanswered questions concerning the romance, so I can’t wait to read the next book.

4 pink flowers

Favorite Quote:

He had a matching bandage on his head.  We looked like two idiots who’d decided to have a head-butting competition

Page 235

Young Adult Debut Promotion: How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Doktorski

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
And she will be doing an interview, excerpt, and giveaway!  And the giveaway is going to be extra special because it will also be a birthday celebration!

How My Summer Went Up In Flames

by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Pages: 320

Release Date: May 7, 2013

by Simon Pulse (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Goodreads / Purchase

Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious. To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review purposes*

*There is one spoiler but I've marked it clearly and made the font color white to blend in with the background. If you want to see the spoiler just highlight where the text would be and it will show up

What a hilarious, fun read!  I don’t think I’ve laughed as much as I did reading this book in a long time.  The writing was so engaging and hilarious, and the idea was so awesome you can’t help but like this book.  I’m very impressed that Doktorski managed to keep my attention through the entire book, especially because the main setting was a maroon Taurus.  I really loved how all the events lined up, and it made for a really fun read.  There was a bit towards the end of the book that was kind of boring, but other than that this book held my attention.

One thing that I had an issue with in this book was Rosie.  To me, she was kind of selfish.  I mean, I absolutely loved her because of her spunk and personality, but some of her actions I didn’t really like that much.  But, other than that, she and the other characters were awesome.  I really enjoyed the romance ([SPOILER:Even though I kind of wanted her to like Matty]).  Logan was a super sexy character, full of charm and muscles, and I really loved him.  I also really, really, REALLY loved Matty.  He was such a nice guy, and he was so cute and adorable.  Spencer was also a really great character.  I really loved his personality and how he always said and did the right thing at the right time.  Awesome, awesome cast.

This is such a cute, funny read, and even thought I had a few issues with Rosie, in the end I think that if she was a real person, she and I would be best friends.  Her spunk and attitude really made this story the epic and fun book that it is.

4 pink flowers

Favorite Quotes:

“It will keep you out of trouble for nine days.  You can’t stalk anyone in New Jersey while traveling seventy-five miles per hour in a vehicle headed west.”
I pretend to think about this for a second.
“Right.  Sure, I’ll go.”
“Really?”
“No.”

~Page 9

“Tomorrow, we’ll hit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, walk around a bit, have lunch at Jack’s Bar-B-Que, and be on the road to Graceland by twelve thirty.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Matty says.
“Sounds like watching pain dry while someone plays a banjo,” I say.

~Page 81

When I open my eyes the next morning, Matty is staring down at me, his head propped up on his hand. “Morning, sunshine,” he says.  “You fart in your sleep.”

~Page 85

Finally.  After three days and fifteen hundred miles of nonstop testosterone, a sympathetic face.

~Page 139

Avery pipes up.  “Okaaay.  Well, now that we got that out of the way, Rosie and I are going to get mani-pedis.”
“Huh? Says Spencer.
“Nail stuff,” Logan says.

~Page 154

Logan sees them too and at that point, he bends down and flings Avery over his shoulder.  Matty sizes me up, hesitates, and grabs my hand instead.

~Page 167

Then comes the clippity-clop of a horse coming up quicky behind me.  I watch the butt of Lucca pass on my left. I’m mulling over a way to surreptitiously get a pic of Lucca’sWrangler butt on horseback when the guys finally join us.

~Page 200

"I'm tired of surprises.  Lately, things aren't turning out the way I planned."
“Good or bad, nothing ever does,” Spencer says.
“Fortune cookie?”
“Nah.”  He shakes his head.  “All me.”

~Page 226

Interview:

1. Why did you decide to become a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed telling stories, especially the kind that make people laugh, but I don’t think I decided to become a writer until I was in college. I started off as a journalist and later as a freelance writer for magazines, but it took me a while to gain the confidence to pursue my dream of writing fiction.

2. Who were your biggest influences?

Growing up, I loved Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton, Irma Bombeck, and Stephen King (Still do!). I also loved the classics, especially Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, and Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. More recently, Meg Cabot, Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Ockler, Ann Brashares, Jennifer Weiner, Tom Perrotta, and Richard Russo to name a few. 

3. Where do you like to write?

At home in my office at my desk. Sometimes I write on the couch on my laptop. I’ve tried to write at the library or a coffee shop, but I get too distracted.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?

Well, first I like to drink lots of coffee. Then, I like to work out or run. Running especially helps to free up my mind and I usually get some of my best ideas on the treadmill or while jogging around the neighborhood. I fill my iPhone with songs that remind me of my characters or setting and I think about the plot.

5. When and how did you get the idea for How My Summer Went Up in Flames?

I got the idea for this story about three years ago, shortly after I sold my first novel. For me, the story began with the phrase, “girl on the receiving end of a temporary restraining order.” I knew that had to be in the opening sentence. From there, I started to think of “Why?” What type of girl would find herself in that predicament? I found Rosie’s voice in that opening sentence and the rest just flowed from there. I don’t think Rosie was the first girl to lose her mind after she loses her heart. For the backdrop, I drew on two different personal experiences. I once took a life-changing cross-country road trip in a celery green Oldsmobile. Another time, I traveled to a college bowl game—the sole girl among three guy friends. 

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

Famous Last Words will be published on July 2, 2013 by Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company (BFYR). Currently, I’m writing a third novel that’s completely unrelated to the first two, and ideas for sequels to both books are bubbling in my head.

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate.

2. Cats or dogs?

Dogs.

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?

I enjoy all three but if I had to pick, hardcover.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?

1. Movie?

That’s a tough one. I love movies as much as books. I just re-watched Almost Famous, so I’m going to go with that. I can also watch Shakespeare in Love over and over again. Oh, and Once.

2. Ice cream flavor?

Vanilla (soft-serve with caramel topping).

3. Animal?

Dog or dolphin. Dog may squeak out dolphin since I can’t actually have the latter as a pet.

4. Book?

Another tough one! It’s hard to choose. To Kill a Mockingbird is certainly one of my favorites.

5. Actor and actress?

Mark Ruffalo and not just for his role as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk.

6. Fictional character?

Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird

Excerpt:

I close my eyes and replay the scene of Joey walking into that party with his arm around that girl. I was beyond pissed. My first instinct was to get in her face. I know it takes two to tango and all that, but I blamed her for going after my boyfriend. When Joey leaned down and tenderly kissed the top of her head, something inside me broke. I bolted from the party as all my hurt and anger bubbled to the surface. I had to do something. It was just after one in the morning when I pulled up in front of Joey’s house. His Mustang was in the driveway, so I knew he was home from the party. I used his Valentine’s Day card to start the fire; the one with the surfing penguin on the front that said, “For One Cool Girlfriend.” It was sosatisfying to click the Scripto lighter and send my Valentine up in flames. As it burned, I stared as the ocean wave, the yellow surfboard, the penguin’s feet, disappeared. Then I dropped the card on my Joey Box and got back in my car. I had no idea things would go so wrong.

Giveaway:

THE RULES:

~There will be 4 winners

~Giveaway ends on May 23, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.

~This giveaway is US/CAN


THE PRIZE:
Originally I was going to giveaway all the books that came out today but since I couldn't find many I asked Jennifer if she would be willing to add a few copies to her giveaway and, since she's awesome, she agreed. So!  The first 3 winners of this giveaway will recieve a finished copy of How My Summer Went Up In Flames, and the 4th winner will recieve an Amazon gift card.  Sound good?  Good :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get to know Jennifer:

Bio:

(Don't judge, but this is my improvised bio that I, Emily wrote.  I couldn't find her official one)



Jennifer is a debut author who's first book, How My Summer Went Up In Flames, came out May 7 from Simon Pulse.  Jennifer also has a second book called Famous Last Words coming soon (July 2, Henry Holt).  She also has an awesome sense of humor.

Connect:

Goodreads 

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH JENNIFER FOR STOPPING BY! YOU'RE WELCOME BACK ANY TIME!! :)