{12 in 12 Review} Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

12 in 12 is me committing to read 12 books in 12 months. These 12 books will be old books that I've had on my TBR since the dawn of time and have been pushed aside for all the SHINY. 

Check out my 12 in 12 intro post to learn more! For February, I decided to read Audrey, Wait! and once again, I LOVED IT! For January I read Sloppy Firsts and it was also a hit so I'm really happy with the direction this project is going.

Aaaaand BONUS! Sharon is totally crashing this review with her thoughts, too! Because after Racquel's glowing recommendation and a super awesome review she cannot seem to find again due to failing massively at life, she joined the I-read-Audrey-Wait-and-loved-it club!

Title: Audrey, Wait!
Author: Robin Benway
Published April 10th, 2008 by Razorbill

Genre: Contemporary YA
Rating: A

Goodreads summary:

California high school student Audrey Cuttler dumps self-involved Evan, the lead singer of a little band called The Do-Gooders. Evan writes, “Audrey, Wait!” a break-up song that’s so good it rockets up the billboard charts. And Audrey is suddenly famous!

Now rabid fans are invading her school. People is running articles about her arm-warmers. The lead singer of the Lolitas wants her as his muse. (And the Internet is documenting her every move!) Audrey can't hang out with her best friend or get with her new crush without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi.

Take a wild ride with Audrey as she makes headlines, has outrageous amounts of fun, confronts her ex on MTV, and gets the chance to show the world who she really is.

This is such a Racquel (and Sharon!), book it's not even funny!!

R: It was craaaaazy but Robin sold it. Usually with outrageously crazy books you have to suspend belief but this book was so real (regarding teen life) and the voice was spot on that I just believed every second of what happened to Audrey. Especially since it *could* happen if you think about it. In an entertainment industry where overnight sensations always happen, the plot of Audrey, Wait! is not that far fetched. 

S: I am in total agreement. It's one of those plots that is far-fetched but totally possible in our society. And I enjoyed every moment of it! The writing style totally worked for me, and Audrey was a great MC. Plus, MUSIC! Always a bonus.

R: This book was FUNNY. Like legit LOL funny. As in I actually had to stop reading and put it down for the night because I was laughing too much and my jaw started aching. I have TMJ and excessive laughing/chewing/biting/yawing/any-sort-of-jaw-movement makes my already screwed up and out of place jaw worse so I had to stop for the night.

S: Seriously. You don't even know unless you've read it. I saved almost two single-spaced size 12 Times New Roman pages worth of quotes from this book, an equal amount of hilarious one-liners and fantastic exchanges. It was actually this particular giggle-inducing quote in the mystery review (seriously, if I commented on your review of this book a month or two ago, let me know! I am your eternal servant) that 100% convinced me that I had to read it because this book was my kind of funny.

“Did you just say ‘frolic’?”
“Is it not a word?”
“Who the hell says ‘frolic’?”
I spun the lock on my locker and waited for it to stick like it always did on 33. “I say frolic,” I told her. “And more people should.”
“They should say frolic or actually frolic?”
“Both.”

For the record, I apologize in advance if I go a little quote-crazy in this review. Which I probably will. So, sorry. And by sorry, I mean you're welcome.

R: The romance: CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE. Super cute alert to the max!! James was such a sweet guy which to be honest is super rare now in books and it was so refreshing reading about Audrey and James. They seriously belong together.

S: Oh. My. Gosh. My heart. The romance in this book was so freaking beautifully awkward and cute, and I am smiling like a loon just thinking about it. But it wasn't overly cheesy or anything! It was simply fabulous.

“I don’t have your number.”
I scribbled it down on a scrap of paper and pressed it into his hand. “Call. Or text. Or IM.”
“How do you feel about carrier pigeons?”
I shuddered. “The equivalent of flying rats.”
“Scratch the pigeons, then.”

R: Victoria is Audrey’s bff and I LOVED her. Now, when I start books and the best friend is introduced, I hate her on spot because I know she’ll either: 1) screw the main character over or 2) act as some sort of plot device, but Victoria was a REAL character!! And it wasn’t like Victoria was the crazy fashionista and Audrey was the shy misunderstood bookworm like what always happens in books. NOPE. Audrey was just as crazy as Victoria and YAAAAY!! I’m tired and OVER the crazy-bffand-main-character-who-does-nothing dynamic. 

S: Yes yes YES! FINALLY a real, healthy, long-standing female friendship in YA! Victoria was hilarious and awesome, and she and Audrey had a great friendship. Yes, they fought, but it was clear that they were actually equal friends who loved each other and had absurd and awesome BFF-y interactions. Plus, Victoria left the best message in the history of messages on Audrey's answering machine:

WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING YOUR PHONE?!? OH MY GOD, DID YOU SEE THE ARTICLE? I AM FREAKING OUT, WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING YOUR PHONE?! Please call me. I’m starting to act like Tizzy around here. It’s getting ugly. Oh, hi, Mr. and Mrs. Cuttler, in case you get this first. Everything’s fine, I’m just trying to get ahold of Audrey. Okay, ‘bye. AUDREY, CALL ME BEFORE I HAVE TO RESORT TO SKYWRITING.

R: Another cool thing: Audrey’s PARENTS! They’re actually present in the book! And wait for it... Audrey actually even says she likes her parents! MY god is this book even REAL?! But oh it is and it's glorious.

S: I don't really have any comments to add here except: YES! And imagine me doing an epic Breakfast Club-style fist pump.

R: This is such a great contemporary YA and I want MOREEE like it! Audrey goes to school and she studies and she has boy drama and she deals with her family and she goes to work and loves music and goes to concerts and spends money on CDs… she’s a REAL PERSON!!!! Despite Audrey’s insta-fame, we still get a story of normal girl with a normal life. Family, friends, school, activities. It’s well rounded with all the aspects of ya know, LIFE. I can’t think of many books like that. So you better believe it: Audrey, Wait! is going on my favorites shelf.

S: Audrey, Wait! is most definitely going on my list of Top 10 YA Books of All Time. And no, I don't have an official list. But it would definitely be on it. It had SO MANY of the things I always beg for but rarely get in a YA book, and in addition, it was original and relatable and hilarious and touching. It is a new favorite, for sure!

Rating: [A] Amazing. Just like we knew it would be!

First:

The day I broke up with my boyfriend Evan was the day he wrote the song. You know, the song.

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Favorite:

“Did Evan actually say ‘kill this vibe’?”
“Those words exactly,” I told her. “Plus some other choice phrases.”
“What? Like ‘Fuck you’?”
“No, more like, ‘How could you do this to me?’ ‘I thought we were gonna be together forever.’ That kind of stuff.”
“Please. He must be a closet romance novel reader. I’m surprised he didn’t break out a lute and try to woo you.”
“If he had done that, I would’ve been more interested.”

---

Teaser:

This was, I decided, the best night ever. The rest of my life was gonna have to be amazingly wonderful, like I would have to cure cancer or save the rain forests or win a Nobel Prize, in order for it to ever surpass the greatness that was this night.

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|Review| Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series:  The Infernal Devices #1
Published August 31st 2010 by Margaret K. McElderry Book
Genre: paranormal YA
Rating: A
Goodreads summary:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I'm not a big paranormal reader but I did enjoy the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and I've had Clockwork Angel sitting on my shelf for a few months now waiting for Clockwork Princess release so I could devour the series in one go. And what's not to devour? Steampunk + historical setting + great heroine + two great boys + well written paranormal world = a must read book & series. 

Tessa: she's strong and likeable but due to the 3rd person POV, I didn't feel 100% connected to her. There was a barrier between us but despite that, I liked her and rooted for her because she's quite the badass heroine.

Secondary characters: at first, Charlotte was so nice, she made me roll my eyes. However I really grew to love her when I realized she had other qualities besides being so kind and angelic. I also really, really loved her husband, Henry. I would not mind reading more about them! On the same note, I also loved Sophie and Thomas. I wanted more page time for all of the them. However, Jessamine is a horrible, sorry excuse of nephilim and she should drown in the Thames. But all in all, a great, well developed group of secondary characters. Magnus Bane is present in this book but it was very brief and I wouldn't even consider him a secondary character but more on the tertiary level. But It's clear he will have a bigger role in Clockwork Prince (book two in the series) and I'm looking forward to that. 

Jem: there is nothing NOT to love about Jem. #TeamJem for the win, okay? He genuinely kind, funny and he put up with Will which say A LOT about him. We learn a lot about Jem and his family which just made me want to jump into the book and hug him.

Will: I surprised myself by not falling in love with Will since EVERYONE loves him but why would I love him? Will is rude to the point of cruelty at some parts of the book. It's obvious and it's even stated that Will has not has the easiest life however, both Jem and Tessa have also been through horrific stuff but that doesn't mean they were mean.  

"Jem says you lie to make yourself look bad," she said. "And perhaps that is true, or perhaps he simply wishes to believe that about you. But there is no reason for excuse for cruelty like this."

That quote sums up exactly what I have to say about Will. Multiple times, we see that there is more to Will than meets the eye but that does not change the fact that he was a jackass. Do I hate Will? No, I can even say I like him but after everyone's praises about him I'm just shocked. I just find the whole "I'm a bad boy but not really I just have issues so I'm gonna protect people around me by being an asshole so they don't get close to me" routine pathetic pathetic pathetic. Grow a pair and man up, buddy boy. Don't think I despised Will, because I didn't. I know he's an extremely important character and hating him will ebb my enjoyment of the series so I'm trying my hardest to see the good in him. And there is some good. 

Romance: Sure I adore adore adore Jem but Will + Tessa had better chemistry. Tessa could have Will, I can have Jem, and we can live happily ever after.

Action + plot: Great and even grotesque at parts. There was a twist that I did not see coming at all so that was awesome! (I *always* read spoilers so I'm never surprised.)

Setting: I BEYOND loved the London, 1878 setting and the time period and it really made the book that much better however I felt that the dialogue felt to modern at times. But eventually, I got over that. 

Rating: [A] The Shadowhunter world is just so fleshed out so revisiting it again is just such a pleasure. Plus plain and simple, this book is extremely well-written and reading it was a real treat. If you haven't read this series, DO IT!

First: The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.

---

Favorite: “Are you implying that shreds of my reputation remain intact?" Will demanded with mock horror. "Clearly I have been doing something wrong. Or not something wrong, as the case may be." He banged on the side of the carriage. "Thomas! We must away at once to the nearest brothel. I seek scandal and low companionship.”

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Teaser: “There's plenty of sense in nonsense sometimes, if you wish to look for it.”

If you haven't read Clockwork Angel go buy it right now (it's a book worth buying!) and if you have read it, what do you think? I'm I being too harsh on Will?

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