Review: Speak

Title:  Speak
Series:  None
Author:  Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre:  YA, Coming of Age, Contemporary 
Publisher:  Square Fish
Publication Date:  October 22, 1999
Source:  Bought

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.
Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.

Find Speak online

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This was the first book I've been assigned to read for school that I've actually enjoyed in a long, long time.  In fact, the last time I genuinely enjoyed a book for school, I was in seventh grade reading The Outsiders.  This book, like that one, is one I'm completely in love with.  It was so incredibly emotional and the journey the main character, Melinda took . . . it just blew me away.  

This book made me feel a lot of things but I think what I felt most often was anger.  I was just so angry for Melinda.  Her peers, her teachers, her parents, IT: all of it made me so freaking angry.  I just wanted someone to ask "why?".  No one ever asked Melinda why she was feeling this way, why she had changed so much.  Hell, no one even asked "what's wrong?".  The closest we got was "what's wrong with you?" and, trust me, it wasn't asked out of concern or kindness.  While we didn't know what exactly had happened to Melina for most of the story, I had a horrible feeling what it was and it just . . . ARGH!  I'm so angry about it.  But still, even though I was so angry while reading, I was amazed at how the author provoked me to feel this way.  Her words are just bursting with emotion.  

I also really enjoyed the way this book was written in.  There were no chapters.  Instead, time was marked by marking periods, when Melinda gets her report cards for school.  I loved this.  It made me feel so much more involved in the story, like I was in it with Melinda.  It also made it so much harder to put down.  I had to force myself not to read too far ahead so I wouldn't ruin discussions about it in class.  

I'm so happy I finally picked this book up.  The emotional impact it's had on me . . . it's a book that will last.  One that I will inevitably come back to over and over again.  If, like me, you've been avoiding this book all these years . . . stop.  This is a book you need to experience.  

“Art without emotion its like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag.” 

Five Teapots

Review: Tell Me Three Things

Title:  Tell Me Three Things
Series:  None
Author:  Julie Buxbaum
Genre:  Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date:  April 5, 2016
Source:  Gifted

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?
It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.
In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?
Julie Buxbaum mixes comedy and tragedy, love and loss, pain and elation, in her debut YA novel filled with characters who will come to feel like friends.

Find Tell Me Three Things online

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I've been reading a lot of YA contemporary lately and I've been so pleased with how amazing they've all been!  I'm telling you, authors are really stepping up to the plate.  This book was one that was kinda a spur of the moment pick up.  I was in a bit of a slump and wanting something light and easy to read (after the emotional turmoil Empire of Storms caused) and this was so perfect.  The characters were all so funny and so relatable.  Seriously guys, this book had me making heart eyes at it the whole time I was reading. 

My absolutely favorite part of this book was the main character, Jessie.  Like I said before, the situations she experienced and the problems she was dealing with were just so relatable.  I saw myself so easily in this character.  Even though she was dealing with heavier issues such as the death of a parent and moving across country and starting at a new school, and learning how to navigate a new home, I still found myself nodding and thinking "yeah, that makes sense" or "I can see myself doing that".  It's been a long time since I felt so closely connected with a character.  Also, a long time since I as so emotionally moved by a book.  The death of her mother hit Jessie so hard and the after shocks affected her whole world.  Just thinking about that and watching Jessie deal with it made me cry more than a few times while reading.  It was really beautiful.  

The mystery surrounding the emails Jessie was getting and who S/N was, well . . . it was pretty obvious from the start who it was.  The moment they were introduced in the book I knew who was behind it.  Still, I really enjoyed seeing Jessie guess and experiment with who it was, not to mention watching her and S/N interact while she was still in the dark about the whole thing.  It was so nice to see her and S/N form a strong and supportive relationship online.  Even without that side of them interacting in person, they were able to create a healthy friendship.  I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book.  The characters were all so great, the struggles that Jessie faced were relatable and emotional.  And despite all this, I found myself laughing out loud at some parts, swooning at others, and smiling through the tears.  I really appreciated the simplicity and beauty of this book and I'm excited to see what else this author comes out with! 

“Just because you're strong doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for help sometimes. Remember that.” 

Four Cards

Review: Emmy & Oliver

Title:  Emmy & Oliver
Series:  None
Author:  Robin Benway
Genre:  Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Coming of Age
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  June 23, 2015
Source:  Gifted.  Thank you!

Emmy’s best friend, Oliver, reappears after being kidnapped by his father ten years ago. Emmy hopes to pick up their relationship right where it left off. Are they destined to be together? Or has fate irreparably driven them apart?
Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life.
She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.
He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?
Readers who love Sarah Dessen will tear through these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver’s father’s crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.

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I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  The premise was interesting and I was looking forward to seeing the way the conflict would play out but I hadn't expected to be so wrapped up when I was reading.  While the story line was fairly predictable, I still found myself eager to read how it would play out on the page.

One of my favorite parts of the story was diving into the conflict - Oliver's kidnapping and the fall out of everyone affected.  I was so interested to hear about the experience from Oliver's POV, especially after hearing about it from Emmy's perspective.  It was honestly such a horrifying and nightmarish situation to read about and I felt like the actions and emotions of the characters while dealing with it were genuine and believable.  Like I said before, the way the plot progressed and how the conflict unfolded was fairly predictable.  There weren't really any shocks that had me reeling while I read but I still enjoyed reading about them all the same.  

While I liked the characters individually for the most part, I had some trouble with them when they interacted with each other, particularly with our two mains, Emmy and Oliver.  They were apart for so long and finally were able to come back together and I guess I just expected something a little . . . more?  There just weren't any sparks for me.  Hearing about the kidnapping before Oliver returned had been so heart breaking but when he was back and they were interacting again, it just felt kind of emotionless. I didn't feel the sparks that were supposed to be sizzling between them.  Their relationship felt a little forced.  I wouldn't have minded seeing them just interacting as friends.

I also have to mention the absolutely awesome way this book was written.  There were so many great and healthy comments and situations.  The characters were all so accepting of each other and the differences that made them stand apart.  I loved the loving and genuine goodness of this author and the messages she conveyed in this story.  

Despite my less than raving emotions toward the relationship between the two main characters, I still really enjoyed this book.  The conflict was predictable but still totally kept my attention throughout.  There was a lot of awesome, smaller conflicts through that pushed my to continue reading, wanting to get to the end.  I'm excited to see what this author comes out with next!

“The more you start to love someone, the more you ache when they’re gone, and maybe it’s that middle ground that hurts the most, when you can see them and still not feel like you’re near enough.”

Four Teapots

Review: Girl Against the Universe

Title:  Girl Against the Universe
Series:  None
Author:  Paula Stokes
Genre:  Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  May 17, 2016
Source:  Gifted.  Thank you!

Maguire is bad luck.
No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when Maguire is around. Like that time the rollercoaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time the house next door caught on fire. Or that time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash—and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch.
It’s safest for Maguire to hide out in her room, where she can cause less damage and avoid meeting new people who she could hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star. Jordy is confident, talented, and lucky, and he’s convinced he can help Maguire break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for Jordy is to stay away. But it turns out staying away is harder than she thought.
From author Paula Stokes comes a funny and poignant novel about accepting the past, embracing the future, and learning to make your own luck. 

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Okay, this book was seriously exactly what I needed.  I've been in a little reading slump lately (as well as a posting slump), but this book just made me so happy.  It's been a long time since I sat down with a book and didn't get back up until I'd finished it but that's exactly what happened with this one.  It's my first Paula Stokes book but after how wonderful this one is, I'm excited to get my hands on the others.

Probably my favorite thing about this book was how well trauma and mental health were handled.  The main character, Maguire, has experienced horrendous trauma in her life and is trying to work through all of the things have have happened to her in the past.  I was so thrilled to see her go to therapy in this book, especially because of how it was portrayed in such a positive way.  I feel like the author did a lot of research into these things and crafted an amazing book that showed how to healthily work through trauma and personal obstacles.  It was awesome to see the growth and change in Maguire.  It was slow and gradual and made all the more believable because of it.  Honestly, I just can't express enough how thrilled I am at the representation of mental health and therapy in this book.  For that reason alone, I think this book should be on many people's TBR lists.  

Besides the absolutely fantastic representation of mental health, the characters in this story were fantastic.  They all had their own struggles and problems they were working through and I loved seeing them all brought together and interacting, especially Maguire and Jordy, her love interest.  Jordy is just honestly so precious.  I adored him throughout the story and loved how sweet and patient he was with Maguire.  Their relationship had such a wonderful slow burn and their backstories and personalities complimented each other wonderfully.  I loved seeing the way they supported each other in their efforts to stick up for themselves and come to terms with their past.  They just had such a genuinely nice and healthy relationship; it was great to see something like that represented in YA.  

This is a book that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside after I put it down.  I loved every aspect of it, particularly the positive message about mental health and the awesome characters.  I'm really excited about this book and I hope I see more like it in YA soon.  I can't wait to read more books with such positive story arcs and character growth.

“Time doesn’t heal anything. It’s like drinking. The best it can do is help you forget, if you’re lucky.” 

  

Five Teapots

Happy 4th of July to those who celebrate!  Be safe and have a great time :) 

Waiting on Wednesday #60

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.  It's where we share the upcoming releases we're most eagerly anticipating and can't wait to get our hands on!  

This week . . .

Title:  Damsel Distressed
Series:  None
Author:  Kelsey Macke (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Spencer Hill Contemporary
Publication Date:  October 14, 2014

Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing
Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after–in fact, she doesn’t think they are possible. Ever since her mother’s death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy, struggled with an “emotionally disturbed” special ed. label, and loathed her perma-plus-sized status.
When Imogen’s new stepsister, the evil and gorgeous Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she’s been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace–the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant–aren’t enough to save her from her pain this time.
While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story.
And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.
Enhance the experience with the companion soundtrack, Imogen Unlocked, by the author's band, Wedding Day Rain.

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Why I'm waiting on Damsel Distressed this Wednesday:  I need this book so badly!  The second I read the blurb, I fell in love.  I totally want to hear the stepsisters' side of the story.  This sounds like just the sort of spin I need right now.  Add in a totally relatable character and a cover I absolutely adore and I'm sold.  Is it the fourteenth yet?

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?  Leave your links in the comments below and I'll be sure to check out your posts!

Review: Can't Look Away

Title:  Can't Look Away
Series:  None
Author:  Donna Cooner (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Point
Publication Date:  August 26, 2014
Source:  A copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Torrey Grey is famous. At least, on the internet. Thousands of people watch her popular videos on fashion and beauty. But when Torrey's sister is killed in an accident -- maybe because of Torrey and her videos -- Torrey's perfect world implodes.
Now, strangers online are bashing Torrey. And at her new school, she doesn't know who to trust. Is queen bee Blair only being sweet because of Torrey's internet infamy? What about Raylene, who is decidedly unpopular, but seems accepts Torrey for who she is? And then there's Luis, with his brooding dark eyes, whose family runs the local funeral home. Torrey finds herself drawn to Luis, and his fascinating stories about El dio de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
As the Day of the Dead draws near, Torrey will have to really look at her own feelings about death, and life, and everything in between. Can she learn to mourn her sister out of the public eye?

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My Review:  Oh, this book.  I'm so conflicted with this one.  There were moments when I was just completely enraptured by it and other times when I was rolling my eyes and trying not to curse at it.  It's a story of loss and growth and we see that through the eyes of the main character.  While I enjoyed that aspect of the novel, there wasn't much else that made me like this book.  

My biggest problem with this novel, the thing that made me question if I would be able to even finish it, was the main character.  I did not like this girl.  At.  All.  She was such a shallow person and I hated having to read through her eyes, especially because she hardly grew or matured throughout the duration of the story.  Of course, I sympathized with what she had to deal with in losing her sister and I hated the fact that that happened to her and her family but I was just absolutely disgusted by her.  She frequently acted rudely to people who were genuinely nice to her just because she wanted to be apart of the "cool kids" and it seemed like she was less concerned about her sister's death and more concerned about what it had done to her online image.  She used the tragedy as a tool to make herself more famous.  She ridiculed people to try to get in with the "in crowd" and I just couldn't find it in myself to like her.  

I did enjoy the parts we saw with Raylene and Luis.  They were my favorite part of this novel which made it 10x worse when Torrey was being mean to them.  I honestly did not understand why Luis was at all interested in her.  She was embarrassed to be seen with him.  And the same situation happened between Torrey and Raylene.  

I also really liked learning more about the Day of the Dead in this novel.  It was all interesting, especially when we were able to hear about it from Luis's grandmother and her friend.  I couldn't get enough of the culture and the stories woven about it throughout.  

Overall, this isn't a novel I'm in love with.  Had the main character been better, I would have had a better time with it.  As it was, I still enjoyed it, especially when Torrey was being semi-decent.  I don't know if I'll even come back to this one but I think it has elements that other people would enjoy.

"When the moon shines bright, your fears will be few and only sweet dreams will come to you"

Three Cards

Review: On the Fence

Title:  On the Fence
Series:  None
Author:  Kasie West (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publication Date:  July 1, 2014 by HarperTeen
Source:  Bought

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

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My Review:  Reading this book made me want to jump up and run around and kick a soccer ball and play baseball and do all that athletic stuff.  But, instead, I just kept reading because I honestly couldn't put it down.  It was just packed with awesome-sauce.  On the Fence is full of heart-warming familial situations, swoon worthy romance, and a tough yet relatable main character that I want to be friends with. 

Charlie was a totally down to earth girl who loved sports and getting on the field.  She's lived with her dad and three older brothers - and swoon-worthy boy next door - her entire life so all she's ever known is rough and tumble athletics.  It's even gotten to the point where she feels like she was just born the wrong gender.  Things would be easier for her dad and family if she'd been born a boy.  I really felt bad for her when she was thinking this way.  I sympathized with her situation and could see where she was coming from but I also felt frustrated with her at times because of this.  She wasn't willing to grab the solution that presented itself at first.  And I understood that she was dealing with a lot of problems but I was still just like 

My favorite part of this book was probably Charlie's relationship with her brothers.  I absolutely adored the dynamic between them all.  They all stood out, even when together.  I loved the fact that they could tease Charlie and act like goofballs but, in the end, they were always by her side and ready to go on the attack for her.  

I also really, really liked Braden.  He was so amazing and so sweet and the fact that he didn't cut Charlie slack in athletics just because she was a girl earned him all the bonus points.  He was still very kind and extremely gentle with her when the time called for it.  I loved how their relationship changed and morphed as the novel went on.  

The plot was fun!  It never seemed to drag or felt boring.  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Charlie discover what it was like to be around girls and try some more feminine activities.  She struggled balancing her new interests and activities with her love of sports and it was interesting seeing her find peace with the way her life was going.  Toward the end, it did take a darker and more serious turn, especially when talk of her mom surfaced.  But it just added more depth to the story overall.  My only complaint it that it felt a little rushed, especially between Braden and Charlie.  I would have liked for them to slow down because it felt like a cope out ending.  

Overall, I liked reading On the Fence a lot.  I do wish the pacing had been a little different and that we would have seem more of Charlie and Braden.  But, besides that, I had a lot of fun with this one.  I hope to pick up more of Kasie West novels in the future!  

“Hey guys,' I said. 'Don't be idiots. This is Evan. Evan, the angry-looking one is Jerom, the constipated-looking one is Nathan, and the goofball on the right is Gage.'

Gage laughed. 'Constipated, Nathan? We said to look fierce.” 

Four Cards

Review: Virgin

Title:  Virgin
Series:  None
Author:  Radhika Sanghani (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  New Adult
Publication Date:  August 5, 2014 by Berkley
Source:  Bought

Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it.
Yet.
This is normal, right?  I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right?
It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed.
The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now?
Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun?
I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen.
Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

Find Virgin online

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My Review:  This book . . . was not at all what I was expecting.  I honestly don't know what exactly I had been imagining but this raw, awkward, and totally not romantic book was not it.  While the main character in this book is, yes, trying to get rid of her virginity, I felt like it was less about that and more about her learning to love and accept herself.  It was full of hilarity and interesting oh-my-gosh situations that had me reminiscing about myself and my friends but I had problems with the characters that brought this book down for me.  

At first, I really liked our main character, Ellie.  She was awkward and funny and trying to fit in and I saw a lot of myself in her.  But after a few chapters, she just got on my nerves.  She had a completely unhealthy habit of comparing herself to others which was what initially got her into the whole "I must lose my v-card ASAP" mode.  I felt that I multiple occasions this showed more blatantly when she couldn't even be happy for her friend's accomplishments because she was too busy being petty and jealous.   Throughout, she just felt very judgmental and hypocritical.  One instance when she met an "emo" guy especially ticked me off.  The things she thought about him were very rude and instantly made me dislike her. 

Another thing that sort of bothered me about this book was that so many of the secondary characters had names that had four letters.  I know, I know, that's sounds like I'm being super nit-picky about things.  But it was something that really annoyed me for some reason.  I think it might be because, since they all had four lettered names, there wasn't enough variety and I kept mixing them up.  Seriously.  Emma, Lara, Luke, Jack, Paul.  And the main character was named Ellie.  I really mixed up her name and Emma's.  

Besides those problems, I did enjoy this book.  It was hilarious and mostly relatable.  I could see my friends and I within these pages and it made me just want to hug it. This was less swoon-worthy romance that I had expected and more of a coming of age, friendship story.  It was very good just, like I said, not what I had imagined when picking it up.  

Virgin is a hilarious coming of age story about a girl learning to except herself.  It's loaded with tons of relatable situations and fun times but is brought down by the main character who was whiny and jealous.  While not my favorite read, I'm looking forward to seeing what this author comes out with next.  

"The rumor about boys finding virgins sexy was a LIE. It was just some medieval bullshit that old people said to try and make their daughters keep their legs crossed and not get pregnant."

Three Cards

Review: Since You've Been Gone

Title:  Since You've Been Gone
Series:  None
Author:  Morgan Matson (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publication Date:  May 6, 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Source:  Gifted

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?
Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?
Go Skinny Dipping? Um...

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My Review:  Since You've Been Gone is a fun, feel good novel about a girl learning to stand on her own.  Morgan Matson wove a sort of magic in her words that made it impossible for me to put this down!  It's not often I come across a contemporary that I like as much as I liked this one.  Morgan Matson has secured a spot on my "Authors I Must Read" list.  

The characters in this book were amazing!  They completely stole my heart.  I related so much with Emily.  She was in the shadow of her best friend, always tagging along and never making the plans.  She was comfortable that way.  I went through a similar situation when I was younger so I knew exactly what she was feeling.  Seeing the way she slowly began to hold her own in her life and gain more confidence was awesome.  You could tell that Sloane never meant to overshadow Emily, it was just the way their personalities reacted to each other.  We didn't see a lot of first hand Sloane but from what we did see, she seemed so fun loving.  The list that she left for Emily to do showed how well she knew Emily and how she challenged her to push her boundaries.  

We also had Frank.  I love this guy so much.  He was just a genuinely good person.  It was refreshing to see a love interest in YA that wasn't brooding, dangerous, or intimidating.  He was smart, caring, and helpful.  It was hilarious seeing him try to help Emily with the list, especially with things like kiss a stranger and skinny dipping.  He complimented her perfectly and they worked wonderfully together.  I loved that they became friends before anything even slightly romantic happened.  Also, their runs were the best!

The list added structure to the plot and helped it move along.  However, when things weren't playing out with the list, things became a little slow.  I was never bored but I was anxious to see Emily move along and complete things on the list.  

Since You've Been Gone is a book worth reading!  If you like fun, hilarious, and heart-warming novels, you're not going to want to miss this one!  I'm definitely going to be looking out for more books by this author.

“Real friends are the ones you can count on no matter what.

The ones who go into the forest to find you and bring you home.

And real friends never have to tell you that they’re your friends.”

Four Cards

Review: Eleanor & Park

Title:  Eleanor & Park
Series:  None
Author:  Rainbow Rowell
Age Group:  Young Adult

Publication Date:  February 26, 2013 by St. Martin's Press 

Source:  Given to me as a gift.  Thanks, Dad and Mike!

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.

Find Eleanor & Park online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

My Review:  After reading and falling in love with Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, I knew I had to find more by this author.  Of course, the first novel that came to mind was this one!  I'd heard so much praise surrounding it so, even though I was a little wary because of the rising mountain that was my expectations, I decided to give it a try.  I am seriously so happy that I did.  This is a novel that I know will stick with me for a long time.  Filled with tough familial situations, slow developing relationships, and characters that have forever been branded in my heart, Eleanor & Park is a story that I'm glad I gave a chance.

I didn't know what I thought would happen when I went into this novel but what I got was definitely different but much better than what I had been expecting.  It broke away from the norms of the young adult genre and I loved that.  There was no insta-love or even insta-attraction between these characters.  The way their relationship developed was slow burning and real.  As I read, I could feel Eleanor and Park's feelings for another slowly growing.  It was a gradual process and allowed us time to meet and become properly acquainted with our characters who come from very different worlds.  

Eleanor does not have a good family life at all.  She was basically kicked out of her home only to return a year later (when this story starts off) to a family that has been drastically changed and is being controlled by her evil step father.  They are suffering from poverty and trying to care for Eleanor's many younger brothers and sisters so she's far down on the list of priorities.  Seeing her in this situation was very painful.  She tried so hard to hide her feelings about how terrible it was.  Still, considering her age and the unfairness of the life she had been given, she handled things very well.  Of course, it was still extremely hard on her and the way she was treated by other people didn't help.  

Park's life was the complete opposite.  He had a loving mother, a father that, while harsh at times, still cared, and only one brother.  They were comfortable financially and he had friends.  Even still, his life wasn't ideal.  He dealt with things that were maybe not as hard as what Eleanor was dealing with but were still hard all the same.  I could relate a lot more with Park but sympathized and felt more for Eleanore.  Seeing them finally come together was amazing and heart warming.  I absolutely adored the way they slowly got to talking; it was unbelievably cute and sweet.  But their friendship and relationship always held a undertone of danger.  They were never fully free to express their feelings for each other in public because of the possible consequences with Eleanor's step father.  

Plot wise, this story had a lot going on but it never felt rushed.  A lot of it was steps they were taking in their relationship and Eleanore trying to handle the problems with her family.  I wanted to savor every moment I had with these characters but I truthfully just couldn't stop myself from flying through the pages.  I was unable to put it down. The ending was bittersweet.  I knew from the beginning something like that would end up happening and it hurt.  I cried hard for these characters.  But even when things looked completely bleak, there was still a small glimmer of hope.

Eleanor & Park should be a novel that everyone has on their to-be-read list.  If not for the amazing writing style and characters then for the lessons and themes throughout.  I can't wait to read more of Rainbow Rowell's works.

“Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” 

 Five Cards

Movie Review: Mean Girls

Title:  Mean Girls
Rating:  PG-13
Director:  Mark Waters
Main Cast:  Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
Seen:  At home

Raised in African bush country by her zoologist parents, Cady Heron thinks she knows about survival of the fittest. But the law of the jungle takes on a whole new meaning when the home-schooled 16-year-old enters public high school for the first time and encounters psychological warfare and unwritten social rules that teenage girls face today.

 Summary found here.



My Review:  Yes, this was my first time seeing this movie.  And yes, I am extremely ashamed about that fact.  I really have no idea what took me so long to watch it!  Wait, actually I do.  I started watching it when I was like, ten and my mom heard the first slip of a bad word and banned me from watching it.  But I finally was able to see it!  And I really enjoyed this movie, even if I was outrageously angry at our main character, Cady, for the majority of it.  

The way this film was edited and put together was so awesome.  I loved that there was side commentary and scenes that weren't happening but were shown.  That element added a unique twist and made this movie more enjoyable to watch.  It also added a lot of humor!  I found myself laughing so much during this movie!  And also fuming.  

Cady was such a frustrating character for me.  I could see her slowly slipping down the mean girl slide and I just wanted someone to shake some sense into her!  Though I know this was definitely intentional and basically the whole point of the story, I was still super angry with it.  But I guess that is what's supposed to happen; we're supposed to feel the feels, even if they're bad feels.  

The lesson that this movie taught was perfect and I loved the way it was executed.  All of the hard stuff we had to go through to get to the end was totally worth it.  I was 100% satisfied when the screen went to black and I'm glad to finally have this movie under my belt.  Mean Girls was a fun, hilarious, and heart warming movie with an awesome lesson that was wonderfully executed.  

Four Cards