Thursday, January 29, 2015

Book Review: "Everything Leads To You" by Nina LaCour

4:25 PM

Synopsis:


A love letter to the craft and romance of film and fate in front of—and behind—the camera from the award-winning author of Hold Still.


A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world.

Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.
(taken from goodreads)



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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Book Review: "Say What You Will" by Cammie McGovern

8:05 PM

Title: Say What You Will
Author: Cammie McGovern
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 343
Publication date: June 3rd 2014
My rating: 5/ 5 stars

Synopsis:

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.
(taken from goodreads)

Review:

I went into this book without really knowing what to expect. At first, I took it to be your typical contemporary book with teens with illnesses and disabilities. However, the more I read, the easier it became to realize that this book wasn't going to be one to merely read and quickly move on afterwards. It is one hell of a powerful and amazing book. The kind that really makes you think about the way in which you perceive the world and the people around you. Like I said, I didn't know what to expect from it, but it certainly wasn't this. It left me completely impressed. In more ways than one. 

This book is technically a love story. Then what makes it so special? you may ask. The answer is simple;there just happens to be a lot more to it than a simple love story. 

Amy was born with cerebral palsy. Meaning that she must get by with a walker and machine that does the talking for her. She also can't control her facial expressions which can sometimes result in her drooling. Basically she doesn't have such an easy life. The thing is, Amy doesn't let that stop her from anything. She always tries everything possible in order to gain a little bit more of independence, despite of her disability. She doesn't let others' pity over-take her and always keeps moving forward and proving how brilliant she is. As for, Mathew, he suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD. This disorder consumes the majority of his life and prevents him or makes it more difficult to do many daily activities.

They have both known each other all their lives. It is now in their senior year of high school when Amy decides to get Student Aids in order to get her by the school year and maybe make it more interesting, that they really get to know each other and take part in the other's life. They both have feelings for each other and they eventually show them. 
{A lot of things happen along the road that I couldn't even dream of spoiling for you so I'm just going to leave it at that}

 I really love how they helped each other with facing daily challenges and tried their best to understand the others' illness/disability. As well as how the author gave us readers a very beautiful and real portrayal of them. That really was a great insight and it made the story exceptionally substantial. Not only was the story amazing as a whole, but the writing was simply beautiful. Also, the character's were really believable and had voices that you just can't help but want to listen to.

In short, this book undoubtedly sparked some emotion in me. It is moving and I truly believe that everyone will be able to take something from it.




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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Book Review: "Rebel Belle" by Rachel Hawkins

8:23 AM
Synopsis:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

  (taken from goodreads)


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Friday, January 23, 2015

Book Review: "Matched" by Ally Condie

11:44 AM
Synopsis:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.



The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. 






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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Book Review: "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher

7:07 PM
  
  Synopsis: 



It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 


Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.    (taken from goodreads)   

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Monday, January 19, 2015

Book Review: "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling

7:49 PM
Synopsis:

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” 

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!


In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka. (taken from goodreads)


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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Book Review: "Oh Yeah, Audrey!" by Tucker Shaw

3:06 PM
Synopsis:

It’s 5:00 a.m. on Fifth Avenue, and 16-year-old Gemma Beasley is standing in front of Tiffany & Co. wearing the perfect black dress with her coffee in hand—just like Holly Golightly. As the cofounder of a successful Tumblr blog—Oh Yeah Audrey!—devoted to all things Audrey Hepburn, Gemma has traveled to New York in order to meet up with her fellow bloggers for the first time. She has meticulously planned out a 24-hour adventure in homage to Breakfast at Tiffany’s; however, her plans are derailed when a glamorous boy sweeps in and offers her the New York experience she’s always dreamed of. Gemma soon learns who her true friends are and that, sometimes, no matter where you go, you just end up finding yourself.Filled with hip and sparkling prose, Oh Yeah, Audrey! is as much a story of friendship as it is a love letter to New York, Audrey Hepburn, and the character she made famous: Holly Golightly. 
(taken from goodreads)


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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Book-haul: I Should Stop Buying Books

7:10 PM


My amazon package came in the mail yesterday! I ordered books, two for which I have really good excuses for. The other two...Let's just say I have a bit of a book-buying problem. But then again, don't we all?

As you can see in the picture, I finally managed to get my hands on "This Shattered World". I read "These Broken Stars" a while ago and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to read this one. Unfortunately, I don't think I can get to it as soon as I'd like due to school. And I really want to read it at my own pace and just enjoy it without having my brain get distracted with homework and what not.

I also got "The Archived" and I have a really good reason for buying this one. You see, my birthday was in October. And as a birthday gift I asked for books. My family knows as much about books as I do about fish anatomy (Hint: Nothing. They no nothing about books). So basically I was expecting them to not buy me any books and just give me amazon gift cards. Much to my surprise they did pick out some books! On of them was "The Unbound" by Victoria Schwab which just happens to be the sequel to "The Archived". Since I had the sequel I decided that I might as well buy the first one so I can have them both by the time I decide to read the series. Oh, and that reminds me! Does anyone know if this is going to be a trilogy or will it remain as a duology? Please let me know if you do; I would really appreciate it.

As for "All the Bright Places" and "Dreamwalkers" I don't really have a reason other than having left over gift card money. And that's a good enough reason for me.

I honestly can't wait to read all of these! I just hope I can find the time soon!








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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Book Review: "Ignite" by Lily Paradis

1:01 PM

Synopsis:

After her father’s untimely demise in a mining accident and her mother’s abandonment, Lauren Lindsay is no stranger to loss. She’s used to living life for one person: herself. That is, until another family tragedy thrusts three children into her care and uproots her life in ways she could never imagine.

Lauren's first instinct is to run, until she meets their striking, mysterious neighbor Dean Powell. Their immediate chemistry and his connection with her late father just might be enough to keep her in town long enough to uncover pieces of her past that she never had answers to. Dean’s shady past and her reluctance to trust him could cost her the life she's always been searching for, but will she run back to her old life?

Or will she choose to stay and live the life her father always imagined for her?    
(taken from goodreads)


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Monday, January 12, 2015

Book Review: "Second Chance Summer" by Morgan Matson

10:37 AM


Synopsis: 



From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. 




Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and over-scheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.




Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.




As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

  (taken from goodreads)


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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Book Review: 'The Sky Is Everywhere" by Jandy Nelson

9:57 AM


Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.   (taken from goodreads)

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Book Review: "Along For the Ride" by Sarah Dessen

4:46 PM
Synopsis:

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
(taken from goodreads)


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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Book-Haul: A Trip to the Bookstore

1:46 PM

  




A few days ago I decided to pay a little visit to my local (by local I mean a hour drive away) indie bookstore. Going to this bookstore is such a lovely experience because every single visit will always be very different from the last. Sometimes they have a ton of books that meet my interests (like you can hear my wallet sobbing as soon as I step foot in there) and other times they don't have as many because the latest shipment hasn't arrived yet. Nonetheless, I never leave empty handed. Plus they have the most amazing coffee and scrumptious pastries.


Before I keep going, I think I should inform you that living here in Puerto Rico is a real challenge for bookworms like myself. You see we don't have any Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, Chapters, etc. We only have 3 bookstores, I kid you not. Although I'm not counting like 2 or 3 others that only sell books written in Spanish. You see, while my first language is Spanish, I have no interest whatsoever in Spanish books. And even if I did, none of the books are YA. Do you see my problem? This is why I buy my books online 95% of the time. 

Anyway, I wish I had taken a picture, so I could show you the cozy and heart-warming place that is this bookstore. Since I didn't, here is a link to their Facebook page: The Bookmark. The amount of love I have for this place is unimaginable. I remember the day I found out of it's existence. I started screaming of happiness and somehow convinced my mom to let me skip school on a Friday so she could take me book shopping. Talk about an amazing day. I truly appreciate this bookstore and it's bookish glory. I'm always eagerly waiting for my next visit.







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Sunday, January 4, 2015

Review: "Shades Of Earth" by Beth Revis

3:16 PM

Synopsis:

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.





But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.





Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.


FUELED BY LIES.

RULED BY CHAOS.

ALMOST HOME.


(taken from goodreads)

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