Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Source: Purchased

Pages: 435

Series: Standalone

Release Date: September 10, 2013

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A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

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?

I picked this book up and read about 20 pages, then I put it down. A few months later I picked up up again.. and I am SO glad I decided to give it another chance! I guess the first time I tried to read it I just wasn't in the mood for it. Who knows. All I know is that I freakin' LOVED this book. I never wanted it to end and was so sad when it did.

This book wasn't only about fangirls and nerds being awkward. It was also about family problems, friendships, disppointments, first love, being a freshman in college... it was about what a teenager goes through. Not just college, but life.

Family played a huge role in this book. Between surviving college, Cath's dad's illness, and Wren's problem, there is no way they would have survived this without the support of one another. Cath has a hard time dealing with being "alone" during her first semester of college. Her sister has ditched her and her dad is hours away. At one point, she doesn't even want to go back to college. However with her fathers support, she goes back for the second semester and she couldn't be happier! Next, her father is alone and ends up becoming sick and ends up in the hospital. Cath is able to come home and help take care of him and with her help, he ends up so much better. I think that family is one of the most important aspects of this book. Without one another, there's a chance that none of them would have survived their struggles that they were put through.

Cath, the main character, is kind of your clichê nerd. I mean, the girl writes fanfiction based off her favorite series of books. She was completely obsessed with Simon & Baz. She did very little socializing, she was always in her own little world, didn't like change, and lived off protein bars. She was the type of character that a lot of people could relate to . She was down to earth, authentic, and I loved her character from the start.

Wren is Cath's twin sister. She is the complete opposite of Cath. She was very outgoing, she partied, and she never really cared for anything other than drinking ad partying. She outgrew her Simon & Baz phase. I wasn't a huge fan of her. I would have been more supportive of my sister and been there for her a lot more than Wren was for Cath. However when a turn of events happens, things start to look up.

Levi can be described in one word: PERFECT! There isn't one bad thing that I could think of that could possibly describe this boy. However, there are a lot of things that I could say about him to describe how amazing he is! First, he works at Starbucks... Hello free coffee! Second, he's super freakin nice! Like not to just Cath, but to everyone! He's just an overall friendly person and that is just one thing that makes him super attractive. Another thing, his smile! Sure, we don't exactly know what his smile looks like... but with the way Rainbow Rowell describes it in the book, I have a pretty clear picture of what it would look like. And what would it look like? ABSOLUTELY PERFECTION. Like he has one of those smiles that could just make your heart melt because it's so amazing. Next, the way he thinks Cath's geekiness is super attractive. Who wouldn't want a guy that thought that their love and passion was attractive?! I'm pretty sure you'd be insane if you didn't love that! I don't think there are really words to explain how perfect Levi is. Actually, I'm pretty sure there aren't words to explain him. He's too perfect. WHERE IS MY LEVI?!

There is some wonderful romance in this book. First, of course, you have Cath and Levi. You can't help but absolutely love them together! They are the kind of couple that makes you super jealous and think you're just gonna end up forever alone because your expectations of a relationship and of a guy skyrocketed because of them. The way they act together, the way they care for one another, how supportive they are of each other, the way they love each other; it's all so perfect. Throughout the whole book, I was super jealous of her relationship with Levi. Like I said, they set the bar pretty high for any guy that may want to start a relationship with me haha. 

Reagan is Cath's roommate. She seemed to be in a bad mood all the time and was never really there very much. When she was, she was usually just there to change her clothes or to sleep (and even that was a rare thing.) She was usually put partying, at work, or studying. However when she was needed, she was there for her friends.

Overall, this book was absolutely amazing. I liked it a whole lot more than I expected to, and yes, I even liked it more than Eleanor & Park. Oops! If you haven't read anything by Rainbow Rowell, I definitely recommend adding her books to your reading list! They are definitely worth the read!

Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Source: Purchased

Pages: 325

Series: Standalone

Release Date: February 26, 2013

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Two misfits.

One extraordinary love.

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

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

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

I have had this book for a little while now and just recently decided that I would pick it up. To be honest, I'm not really sure why it took me so long to finally read it. THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZING. 

This is the second book that I read by Rainbow Rowell (Review for Fangirl coming tomorrow!) I was kind of scared to read this book because I had heard SO many good things about it and I didn't want to not like it. I know, that's a silly reason to not read a book, but it happened. Oh well. Finally, I was like what the heck and started reading it. At first, I was a little iffy about it. But then the more I read, the more I got hooked!

I love love love Eleanor. She is the furthest thing from perfect. She's not "skinny", she's not popular, she doesn't dress normal, she has a "I don't care what you think" attitude, and her home life is anything but normal. You really have no choice but to kind of feel bad for her because of everything that she has been through in all her years of living. But because of all of that, it made me love Eleanor even more. She is so unique and just an amazing character. 

Park was a boy that a lot of girls would love to have as theirs. At least I would. He was super sweet and just as awkward as Eleanor was! He was so funny and was definitely swoon-worthy at times. And Park and Eleanor together? SO PERFECT. You probably wouldn't think they were perfect for one another in the beginning of the story, but you learn as you read that they are absolutely perfect for one another. 

Usually I am not a fan of reading books with multiple points of view. However, I LOVED it in this book. It helped me be able to feel all the emotions that both characters were dealing with and feeling. You were able to see that both came from different lives but you could also see that they had a lot in common as well. You were able to see just how much they needed each other and how much they deserved to be together. 

I am just going to briefly write about someone I HATED in the book. Eleanor's idiotic step-dad. Personally if I was dating/married to someone like him and I knew what he was doing to my children, I would find a way to leave him. There is no way that I would sit there and allow him to do things to me AND my children. NO. I can't stand men like him. Men like him deserve to rot in jail. I'm going to end it with that because just thinking about it makes me SO angry. Definitely read the book if you want to find out more about this idiot.

Now the ending.. I have mixed emotions about the ending. I feel like it was kind of rushed and there were some questions that we were left trying to figure out. I wanted to know more about what was happening with Eleanor. I wanted to know what the postcard said. I kind of have a feeling as to what it said, but I'd like to know for sure! What was going to happen with Eleanor and Park? I want to know more!

Overall I really enjoyed this book a lot. Like I said, this is my second book I have read by her. It will definitely not be my last either. She is such an amazing author. If you are a fan of contemporary novels, definitely pick this book up. You'll love it!

Review: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Publisher: Definitions

Source: Purchased

Pages: 454

Series: Standalone

Release Date: May 27, 2010

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She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

This is not your average love story. This love story is between two best friends, Lochan and Maya, who also happen to be brother and sister. Yes, you read that correctly. They are brother and sister. Lochan and Maya aren't your average teenagers. Their dad abandoned them and their mom spends all her time with her much younger boyfriend. Lochan and Maya are in charge of running the household as well as taking care for their three younger siblings. 

When Lochan is in public, like school, he is very shy and socially awkward. He always stays to himself. Maya on the other hand Maya is the opposite. She has friends and doesn't mind being around people. But when Lochan is around Maya at home, he is able to completely be himself. He is able to open up and show his true feelings.. but only when his other siblings aren't around.

Throughout the story, Lochie (Lochan's nickname) and Maya start developing feelings for one another. Each knows that these feelings aren't the kind of feelings that normal brother and sister have for one another. They know that these kind of feelings can get one another in trouble. Both of them try to fight these feelings away. They have no idea what to do with these feelings. But love conquers all. You can't help how you feel.

"We haven't done anything wrong! How can love like this be called terrible when we're not hurting anyone?"

"How can something so wrong feel so right?"

I know that the whole idea of a brother and sister falling in love is really weird. I KNOW it is.. But while you're reading this book, I felt myself actually rooting for them. I really wanted Lochie to be able to be together. I wanted them to be able to love each other and have a happy ending. You could just tell that they loved each other dearly and deserved to be together.

I thought this book was written very well. I loved all of the characters. I loved the relationship between Lochie and Maya. As weird as it may be, I loved everything about this book. 

And then you get to the ending.. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil it, but oh my gosh.. NOT what I was expecting. Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, Tabitha Suzuma threw a HUGE curve ball at you. And if that doesn't make you want to read it, I don't know what will. All I can say is that you definitely need to give this book a chance. Forget all of the weirdness that you think about with a brother and sister relationship. Just read it! This is definitely a 'forbidden' love story that everyone should read!

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Viking

Source: Purchased
Pages: 278
Series: Standalone
Release Date: March 19th, 2009

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“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.

“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.

I am that girl.

I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.

I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

I have never read a book about eating disorders before. I think that it is a very serious subject to read about. I also think that it is a really hard topic to write about. Because so many have to fight with this disease every day, you have to make sure that you get things correct so you don’t make these people feel even worse about themselves. (I hope that makes sense!) I had heard a lot of good things about this book, so I decided to give it a try.

This book was very powerful. During some parts of it, I literally felt like I was Lia. Sometimes it got so bad, I had to stop reading, gather my thoughts, and remember that I am NOT her. I am NOT dying. I think that if you are going to read this book, you need to be able to be mature about this subject and be able to not let it affect you in such bad ways. I think you should be strong enough to pull yourself out of the deep hole that this book puts you in.

Although I am a huge fan of romance, I am kind of glad that this book didn’t have any. When the character Elijah is introduced in the book, I got really worried. I thought she was going to be falling for the “bad guy.” She was already dealing with a lot and I didn’t want her to have to deal with him too. I had a funny feeling that he was going to be the one to save her in the end, but I am so glad that the only one who saved her was herself. By her saving herself, it made the story even better.

I thought that the style of writing was really neat. It is one of those things where you either love it or hate it. In my case, I loved it. I thought it was really cool how she was having these separate thoughts and they were crossed out in the book and then told things she actually said out loud.

Even though this book started off a little slow, I thought it was overall a really great book. Like I said earlier, I think you need to be mature about the topic involved in this book, but it is definitely a good read.

Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Source: Purchased

Pages: 368

Series: Standalone

Release Date: September 17th, 2013

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Josie Byrne’s life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she’s betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can’t get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo’s life is everything Josie wants: she’s popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they’re just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo’s perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo’s boyfriend, he hates her. Jo’s mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

This is the first time I have read a book by Gretchen McNeil. I had NO idea what to expect. I saw a few booktubers talk about this book and they made it seem like it was a really good book. I picked up a copy as soon as I could and man oh man and I glad that I did. Even though there was a lot of science related things in this book that I didn’t understand, this book is still absolutely amazing and is easily my new favorite book! This book was written so well. From page one, it had me wanting to read more and more! I even got annoyed that I had to leave my house and do things. It literally aggravated me that life was getting in the way of finding out what would happen next!

This book has two doppelgangers, Josie and Jo. At first I was kind of worried that it would bound back and forth between both girls point of views in the book. I am really glad that this book wasn’t written like that! I think that the fact that it was only Josie’s POV, it made the book a lot more interesting. It was really neat being able to read about Josie being able to figure things out on her own throughout the story. I think it made the book even better.

The way that McNeil has Josie’s personality in this book is so great. Her personality and her actions is realistic. She’s like your average teenager. She makes choices for the wrong reasons, she has selfish moments, and she doesn’t always have the best judgment about people. But she also is SUPER smart, she’s really caring, and nuanced as a character. I think the fact that she saw that her newly ex-boyfriend is happier and in all ways better in the other world, that of course she wanted to go and be with that guy. I think that is something someone in real life would want to do too!

Throughout the whole book, it had you on the edge of your seat. Just when you thought things were going to work out, a new twist was brought about! Just when I thought I could predict something, the total opposite thing happened!

The way that Gretchen McNeil described the Nox was super creepy! She made them sound like something that would be in an awful nightmare! They are something that I would NEVER want to come face to face with!

Then, of course, there is the romance. NON-JERKFACE NICK WAS SO FREAKIN WONDERFUL! For real though, I loved him with Josie. Ahh, just so so cute.

If you are a fan of sci-fi/thrillers then you should definitely check it out! Even if you aren’t or you want to try something new, PICK THIS BOOK!

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton

Source: Purchased

Pages: 372

Series: Anna and the French Kiss #1

Release Date: December 10th, 2010

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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?

This book. Oh man, what can I say about this book? First of all, let’s start with saying how amazing this book is! This is one of very few books that I read in one day. I seriously couldn’t and did not want to put it down! The characters, the story, everything.. It was all just so good!

The way this book was written was too good. The way that Stephanie Perkins was able to have the more the plot along without the story being too fast or too slow, it was incredible! You always want to know what happens next. This book definitely keeps you on the edge and to want to keep reading more and more until the book is over.

The way that Perkins also has the “almost” love story moment is also really awesome. There are parts all throughout the book when you think “this is it, they’re finally going to kiss” and then nothing happens! It drives you insane because you know that they are meant for each other from the moment they start talking to one another. All you want is for them to finally kiss and to be together!

Another thing, the whole story is so believable! I have read a lot of books where you could predict what was going to happen or you just knew that the two characters shouldn’t be together. But with Anna and Etienne, you can tell that they NEED to be together. They aren’t perfect like most books try to make people seem to be. They are just normal people who are destined to be together.

A book set in Paris..? What gets better than that? I mean it is the romance city of the world! Of course it’s going to make you want Anna and Etienne to be together even more! Also, the way that Perkins describes things in the book makes it seem like you are actually there. You can feel the weather that is happening, you can see the theaters that Anna is going to, and you can almost taste the food they are eating.

Now let’s talk about Mr. Étienne St. Clair! He is far from perfect, but he seems like the type of guy that could completely sweep you off your feet. He’s so sweet and caring. There definitely needs to be more guys like him, but in real life of course!  And the way Perkins describes him, he seem so incredibly gorgeous! What girl doesn’t want a hot guy who is also super sweet and caring?!

There is so much more that I could say about this book, but I will just end this and say that you should just go pick up a copy and read this book for yourself. It’s such an amazing book.