Review: 10 Things I Can See From Here (ARC)

TITLE: 10 Things I Can See From Here
AUTHOR: Carrie Mac
PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf
PUBLICATION DATE: 2/28/2017
FORMAT: ARC
PAGES: 320
SOURCE: Amazon Vine/Publisher
MY RATING: 🦄🦄🦄 + 1/2

SUMMARY (FROM GOODREADS): Think positive. Don't worry; be happy. Keep calm and carry on.

Maeve has heard it all before. She's been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it's not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom--the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through--is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver.

Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn't seem to worry about anything. Between her dad's wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I personally deal with anxiety, so I was interested to see how they would approach that aspect of the book. The book itself is pretty morbid. My anxiety is different than Maeve's so it wasn't too difficult for me to read this book. But I feel like someone with severe anxiety would be triggered into a panic attack by reading this with as many terrible facts and situations that Maeve is constantly listing. It was really exhausting for me trying to keep up with everything that went through her head. But after all of that, I really enjoyed the ending and especially the last scene.

COVER:  I love simple covers with pretty typography, so I love this cover.

Review: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology (Audio)

TITLE: Trouble Maker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
AUTHOR: Leah Remini
NARRATOR: Leah Remini
PUBLISHER: Random House Audio
FORMAT: Audio Book
LENGTH: 7 hrs 12 mins
SOURCE: Bought
MY RATING: 

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): Leah Remini has never been the type to hold her tongue. That willingness to speak her mind, stand her ground, and rattle the occasional cage has enabled this tough-talking girl from Brooklyn to forge an enduring and successful career in Hollywood. But being a troublemaker has come at a cost.

That was never more evident than in 2013, when Remini loudly and publicly broke with the Church of Scientology. Now, in this frank, funny, poignant memoir, the former King of Queens star opens up about that experience for the first time, revealing the in-depth details of her painful split with the church and its controversial practices.

MY THOUGHTS: Before I picked up this book, I only knew of Leah Remini from her show King of Queens. I didn't even know that she had previously been a Scientologist, but I love listening to autobiographies especially when they are on social culture. I think Leah did a great job at the narration of her book - I always enjoy biographies more when they are narrated by the author themselves because they are able to emphasize parts they feel are important. Although, since I know nothing about Scientology, because of her New York accent, I thought through the whole book she was saying "Ella Rach" instead of  "L. R. H."

The book itself was enjoyable. I feel like Leah described her experiences really well and she did a good job of explaining why she left the Scientology religion while still being fairly respectful. I really enjoyed listening to her and I'l have to check out her reality television show sometime soon because I think it would be fun to get a glimpse inside her life as it is now.

All The Bright Places Review

Goodreads

TITLE: All The Bright Places

AUTHOR: Jennifer Niven

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf Books For Young Readers

PUBLICATION DATE: 1/6/2015

FORMAT: ARC

PAGES: 400

SOURCE: Amazon Vine

MY RATING: 

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might die, but every day is also searches--and manages to find--something to keep him here, and alive, and awake.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school--six stories above the ground--it's unclear who saves whom.  And when the unlikely pair teams up on a class project to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, they go, as Finch says, where the road takes them: the grand, the small, the bizarre, the beautiful, the ugly, the surprising--just like life.

Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself--a bold, funny, live-out-loud guy, who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet forgets to count away the days and starts living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

This is a heart-wrenching, unflinching story of love shared, life lived, and two teens who find one another while standing on the edge.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This is a quick read, even though it's fairly large, so don't be intimidated by it's size. It has road trip elements, even though it's not really a "road trip book." All The Bright Places has plenty of feels, so if you're in the mood for something with lots of different emotions, the definitely check this one out. I would recommend it for older teens as it does have some pretty heavy topics in it, but it is very much worth reading.

CHARACTERS: I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to, but I think that was more about my mood when I was reading this book than the book itself. 

COVER: I love it. The post-its tie into the story perfectly.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.**

For Real Review

Goodreads

TITLE: For Real

AUTHOR: Alison Cherry

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 12/9/2014

PAGES: 320

FORMAT: eARC

SOURCE: Netgalley

MY RATING: 

SUMMARY (FROM GOODREADS): No parents. No limits. No clue what they're in for.

Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister's shadow. While Miranda's life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality TV.

When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just before her college graduation, it's Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They'll outshine Miranda's fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome.

But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may or may not be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life...or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what's for real?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This story is so fun. I really enjoyed reading it and waiting to see what the next challenge would be for the contestants on the TV show. One of the best things about this book was seeing what would get thrown at the contestants next. This book was filled with the perfect balance of drama, laughter and touching moments. I would have given this book 4 stars, but I was a little bit disappointed by the ending. It wasn't a bad ending, I just felt like it needed to be expanded more.

CHARACTERS: The character development in this book is wonderful. I loved watching the main character, Claire, grow and develop throughout the story. I also liked seeing the relationships between all of the different characters.

COVER: The cover is cute. I like it.

Autumn Falls Review

Goodreads

TITLE: Autumn Falls

AUTHOR: Bella Thorne with Elise Allen

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 11/11/2014

PAGES: 224

FORMAT: ARC

SOURCE: Amazon Vine

MY RATING: 

BACK COVER SUMMARY: With her fiery red hair, new-girl outsider status, and tendency to be a total klutz, Autumn Falls definitely isn't flying below the radar at Aventura High. Luckily, she makes some genuine friends--but she also manages to get on the wrong side of the school's queen bee.

When Autumn vents her feelings in a journal that belonged to her late father, suddenly her wildest wishes start coming true. Is it a coincidence? Or can writing in the journal solve all her problems? And if the journal doesn't work that way, is there a bigger purpose for it--and for her?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I'd seen Bella in her Disney show, as well as in Blended and thought she seemed like a great, well-rounded person, so I was curious when I heard that she had a book coming out. I feel like the story that she wrote was fine, but could have been better. The idea behind the book is a good one, but I think Bella needs to work on her writing skills some more--although, I believe if she keeps at it, she can become a great writer. When I was reading the book, I could definitely tell that it was written by someone of a younger age by the way the words sounded as I was reading them in my mind. 

I enjoyed the resolution of the book. It was predictable, but still cute and fun to read. I hope Bella continues to work on writing as I would love to see what she can accomplish.

CHARACTERS: I really liked the character of J.J. He has a great personality, and I wish I could have seen more of him throughout the book. The main character, Autumn, was great as well. I felt like I really understood her and what she was feeling.

COVER: I have mixed feelings on the cover. I don't usually like covers with faces on them, but this one is only half a face. I really like how they painted the model's nails with the sparkly polish and the heart detail on her left hand.

The Here and Now Review

Goodreads

TITLE: The Here and Now

AUTHOR: Ann Brashares

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 4/8/2014

PAGES: 256

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn't come from a different country. She came from a different time--a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they're from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she's told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

Thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking, The Here and Now is a twenty-first century take on an impossible romance. A girl from the future might be able to save us...if she lets go of the one thing she's found to hold on to.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: The concept of this book is so interesting to me. It has the dystopian elements that I love, but lately have been getting redundant, so the time travel element is a nice change. I really loved the idea of this book, but I feel like more could have been done with it. More detailed explanations about the future, time travel, what some of the characters were trying to accomplish.

CHARACTERS: I loved both Prenna and Ethan. The relationship between the two of them is so cute and sweet, but it's also very natural as well, none of that irritating insta-love here.

COVER: I don't really like the cover. The font is too harsh and the partial face is kind of creepy.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Gated Review

Goodreads

TITLE: Gated

AUTHOR: Amy Christine Parker

PUBLISHER: Random House

PUBLICATION DATE: 8/6/2013

PAGES: 352

MY RATING: 

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Lyla Hamilton and her parents moved to the Community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. They have thrived under the strict, charismatic leadership of Pioneer. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her intended.

The end of the world is near.

Pioneer has visions of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must prepare to fight off the unchosen, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the Community than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I loved this book so much. I've heard some talk of people not liking this book, so I was a little worried going into it, but I ended up loving it. There is a creepy cultish feeling in the begininng of the book, which hooked me right away. I'm fascinated by stories about cultures like the LDS or Amish, people who keep to themselves and have their own set of rules so this book was really interesting to me.

CHARACTERS: I really like Cody. He seems like your everyday average boy, and that's refreshing to read about in young adult novels these days. I also really liked the character of Pioneer. I feel like he plays his role extremely well, even though I don't personally like him, I felt his character was very well done.

COVER: The cover of this book is really creepy. I'm not really sure that it fits with this book though. To me, the cover says haunted ghost story or something along those lines, which this book is not at all. 

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Teardrop by Lauren Kate Review (ARC)

Goodreads

TITLE: Teardrop

AUTHOR: Lauren Kate

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/22/2013

PAGES: 464

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Never, ever cry...

Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I didn't enjoy reading this book. I feel like it took forever to get to the meat of the story. I was just reading and reading trying to get to the good part. And then, just when I thought it was going to pick up and the story line would progress, it slowed back down and dragged on. The last chapter finally got interesting - and then the book was over. 

I feel like the second book in the series will be better with more plot progression, but I'm not sure I'll ever pick it up to find out.

CHARACTERS: Eureka was an okay character. I feel like the romance between her and Ander was way too sudden and didn't really make any sense to me. I really liked Brooks and I do want to know what is going to happen to him. 

COVER: The cover is gorgeous! I love the colors and the embossing. And I love how the model's dress is made up of water.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Chasing Shadows

Goodreads

TITLE: Chasing Shadows

AUTHOR: Swati Avasthi

GRAPHICS: Craig Phillips

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/24/2013

PAGES: 320

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Before: Corey, Holly, and Savitri are one unit--fast, strong, inseparable. Together they turn Chicago concrete and asphalt into a freerunner's jungle gym, ricocheting off walls, scaling buildings, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. But acting like a superhero doesn't make you bulletproof....

After: Holly and Savitri are coming unglued. Holly says she's chasing Corey's killer, chasing revenge. Savitri fears Holly's just running wild--and leaving her behind. Friends should stand by each other in times of crisis. But can you hold on too tight? Too long?

In this intense novel, Swati Avasthi creates a gripping portrait of two girls teetering on the edge of grief and insanity. Two girls who will find out just how many ways there are to lose a friend...and how many ways to be lost.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: During the first couple of pages, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy reading this. Then something in the story happened and I was hooked. The ending wraps up very nicely and left me completely satisfied. The graphic novel aspect of the book was interesting. For me, I found it distracting and wanted to get back to the written story, but I understand how some people would really enjoy it.

CHARACTERS: Holly makes me so mad. She's so reckless and one-track minded. She doesn't care who she hurts to get what she wants.

COVER: The cover is really nice. It's not one of my favorite covers, but it does fit the story very well.

*I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Lies Beneath Review

Amazon

 

TITLE: Lies Beneath

AUTHOR: Anne Greenwood Brown

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press (Random House)

PUBLICATION DATE: 6/12/2012

PAGES: 320

MY RATING: 3.5/5

BACK COVER SUMMARY **Has spoilery tendencies** :  Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters must prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge. They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death.

It's going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water. Calder's job is to gain Hancock's trust by getting close to the family. Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily. Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love - just as Lily starts to suspect there's more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagines, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing's for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won't be pretty.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I liked the story line. I would have liked to hear a little more about the legends that thad been passed thorough the town though. I'm really interested in legends that seem to make their way through small towns and I would have liked to see the comparison of those legends versus the truth of this book. The ending of the story was brilliant - I was not expecting what happened.

CHARACTERS: I didn't feel a huge connection to any of the characters. I thought Sophie was cute and sweet, but I didn't feel like I knew enough about any of the characters. I almost felt a bond with Calder, but it wasn't quite there.

I would have loved to know more about Lily's mother and what she was dealing with.

COVER: I like the cover, but I'm still confused as to why there is a female mermaid on the cover when the main character is a male. Maybe it is supposed to be one of Calder's sisters, but it doesn't make much sense to me.

 

*I received an ARC copy of this book through Amazon Vine for review.