(Review) Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Welcome back to Sizzle & Swoon! Today, I'm reviewing a fantastic YA with a great romance. Head over to Alexa Loves Books to see our go-to YA authors.

Title: Meant to Be
Author: Lauren Morrill
Published: November 13, 2012 (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Hardcover, borrowed from the library

Summary: It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

I wanted to like Meant to Be the second I saw it. The cover is just so bright and happy! It has what I like to refer to as the "Lizzie McGuire Movie Factor." Class trip to a foreign country? I am SO there. And I'll probably love it. Which I did!

Meant to Be was a ton of fun. From the attention-grabbing intro, I knew I was going to love having Julia as a narrator. She was very relatable, and she matched my sense of humor very well. She was hilarious. I don't think I've enjoyed a narrator that much since Jessica Darling. Which is interesting, because they're so different, but it's true.

I’m Julia Lichtenstein, and even though I alphabetize my bookshelf and have, from time to time, quoted Dante at swim team dinners, I can have fun!

Thanks to her, Meant to Be was so incredibly quotable! I haven't saved this many quotes from a single book in a long time. I literally have an entire page of 11 pt Cambria filled with quotes from this book. And each one is magnificent. I want to have this one made into a t-shirt, because it's so true:

There’s a difference between preferring books to parties and preferring sixteen cats to seeing the light of day.

Then we have Jason. I could see why some people would have problems with him, but I loved him a lot! I lovelovelove that he wasn't this mature, wise-beyond-his-years, uber brooding and sexy, 30-year-old stuck in a 17-year-old's body. Not that I have a particular problem with those, but they sometimes get a little old. It was so refreshing to have a romantic storyline centering around a totally normal 17-year-old boy. He sometimes did stupid things, but he was ultimately a good guy.

Plus, I was just having a conversation a couple days before I started this book, about the lack of redheaded guys as main characters. It's fairly common for the girl or woman, but apparently the most guys are allowed to have if they want to qualify as "sexy" are auburn highlights that come out in the sun. So Jason was all about breaking the stereotypes in more than one way! Which is always something I appreciate in books.

As for the plot, it was pretty entertaining! I actually thought the "mystery texter" was going to be a super obvious person, from the second I read the cover blurb. But it wasn't! So I was actually left wondering for a lot of the book, which was nice. Really, my only complaint about this book is the ending. It was way too rushed! I needed at least 5 or 10 more pages. It was fairly underwhelming and needed a little more resolution for some things. It was sweet, though.

Overall, Meant to Be was a thoroughly enjoyable story! I had so much fun reading it. There were nearly as many swoons as there were laughs! And there were a lot of laughs. I will most definitely be looking for more from Lauren Morrill in the future.

There are certain things in life that just suck. Pouring a big bowl of Lucky Charms before realizing the milk is expired, the word “moist,” falling face-first into the salad bar in front of the entire lacrosse team...

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As a rule. And I really don’t like breaking rules. (It’s kind of one of my rules.)

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Why does everyone think a girl who prefers books to people must be in want of a life?
[translation from text speak to English mine]

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“Yeah, that’d be fun,” I say, hoping my voice sounds appropriately enthusiastic without too much of a tinge of OMGYESPLEASERIGHTNOW!

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Sizzle & Swoon: Our Favorite YA Romances

Welcome back to Sizzle & Swoon! Today, we're starting our last category focus: Young Adult. While technically, most YA books aren't classified as romances, there are lots and lots of swoon-worthy love stories. So whether or not the books are labeled "romance," they definitely contain it. And now we want to share some of our favorite YA books that give us lots of romantic feels. Don't forget to check out Alexa Loves Books for a review of a fabulous YA romance - which happens to be one of the picks on this list!

Our Favorite Books from Other Subgenres

(Remember that (+A) (+S) (+R) means that (+Alexa), (+Sharon), or (+Racquel) agrees with that pick!)

ALEXA'S ANSWERS

1) Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles - As you can see, Racquel chose another book in this series. This second book, however, is my favorite. I adore the setting, and I adore the characters. Plus, the story really moved me when I read it.

2) Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas - This is the second book of the series, but it really brought out all the FEELINGS. I swooned a lot while reading this one, and it also has some of my favorite moments ever.

3) Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson (I love it too much not to include it.) - The whole idea of reuniting with someone from your past just got to me. Their relationship was super sweet and super cute, and I want to have a boy like Henry.

RACQUEL'S ANSWERS

1) Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (+A) (+S) - My favorite YA book and romance! Years later I realize it is cheesy but it WORKS and it's GREAT!

2) There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones - A beautiful, beautiful book. It tackles a lot of issues but Jenny B. Jones really did all of them justice.

3) Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (+A) - Johnafter. 'Nuff said.

SHARON'S ANSWERS

1) The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (+A) - My all-time favorite YA book! I've read it so many times, I've lost count (somewhere around 13). A beautiful romance, a great story, and a fantastic supporting cast. This book is so awesome, you don't just swoon. You sa-woon.

2) The Summer Trilogy by Jenny Han (+A) - I'm kind of cheating here, but I can't imagine just reading ONE of these books. They're all one long book to me. And the romance is incredible.

3) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (+A) - I literally (yes, literally!) STOPPED BREATHING for a few seconds at The Kissing Scene in this book. If you've read it, you know which one I mean. I got so attached to the couple. Their romance, even if it is technically the secondary plot, is unbelievably good.

Do you read Young Adult? If so, then you've probably seen one or two (or thirty) with a fabulous romance. Do share! We're always in need of more!

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(Review) This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: This Is What Happy Looks Like
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Published: April 2, 2013 (Poppy)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Physical ARC, won from AnnaReads. (Thanks!)

Summary: When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I read This Is What Happy Looks Like for the Spring into Summer Readalong. Thankfully, I enjoyed it a lot more than The Vincent Boys. I love how Jennifer E. Smith gets such unique titles, yet they match the book completely. This book had me smiling so much! And it had some fabulously quotable lines:

“How can you know it makes you happy if you’ve never experienced it?” – “There are different kinds of happy,” she said. “Some kinds don’t need any proof.”

This Is What Happy Looks Like was all kinds of cuteness. In involved Charlotte's Web references, a pet pig, summer in Maine, an adorable and famous teenage boy, and ice cream. If that's not a wonderful combination, I don't know what is!

I liked both Ellie and Graham, and their relationship was sweet. Obviously, many a girl has dreamed about some situation similar to this one: falling in love with a star. Around Ellie's age, I probably would have wished it was Johnny Depp. Or, less disturbingly - as Johnny Depp is a few months older than my parents - Pacey Witter. Er, I mean Joshua Jackson. And Ellie's reaction when she finds out Graham was her mystery email boy? Priceless!

Why is it that so many YA heroines have only one best friend with whom they fight for the duration of the book? Is it that difficult to write BFF interactions? Does it allow for more time inside the character's head without duplicating information? Does it just add random drama? I just don't get it. I think this book handled the issue fairly well, but I just don't understand this whole thing in general.

I wish there had been a more interaction between Ellie and Graham and a little less family drama. It wasn't too imbalanced, but it would have been nice. I think the thing that would've improved it the most for me would to see a lot more of their interactions before they met! Their emails were so fun and deep and witty; that was probably my favorite part of the whole book. Plus, supposedly, they developed feelings during the emailing process, but we didn't really even get to witness it. What we did get to see was wonderful, though.

This Is What Happy Looks Like is a great summer read! The small-town Maine setting makes a perfect escape. It is a book best enjoyed outdoors, with your toes in the sand (or grass) and an ice cream cone in your other hand.

As Ellie walked into town, her backpack heavy on her shoulders, she counted the merits of their plan in the same way she might count the benefits of an extra ice cream cone (calcium) or a few extra minutes of sleep (energy).

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When he’d kissed her, it had felt like the striking of a match, something hard and bright in his chest, a part of him he hadn’t even realized was waiting to be lit.

---

The morning felt like a mixing bowl just waiting for its ingredients; there was a sense of possibility to it, a promise of something more to come.

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(Review) The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Title: The Vincent Boys
Author: Abbi Glines
Series: The Vincent Boys, #1
Published: October 30, 2012 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: Last Resort
Format: Paperback, borrowed from the library

Summary: Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.

Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.

Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist....

Oh, where to even start with this book?

If I read past the first 5 pages of a book, it is extremely unlikely that I will DNF it. I am eternally hopeful that things will improve. But I can 100% guarantee that I would have set this one down 80 pages in. I came this close to doing so, and the only thing that kept me going was that I was reading it for the Spring into Summer readalong. So I pushed through.

It didn't get better. In fact, it just kept getting worse. The writing was stilted and repetitive through the entire book. There was very little chemistry between the leads. I did not like a single one of the characters, even the minor ones.

First, there's Ashton. Ashton used to be a secret Bad Girl. She would sneak out at night and do bad things like stuffing frogs into mailboxes with Beau. But then Sawyer asked her out, and she became a Good Girl, squishing those Bad Girl urges down, down, down. Somehow, this means that Beau is the only one who knows that side of her (even though Sawyer used to be the one who bailed them out of trouble, which implies that both Sawyer and all the people who had ever caught her knew she had a Bad Side). Ashton is an idiot, basically. She wallows in her misery and vacillates and whines until she finally makes a the inevitable choice.

And then we have Beau, the Bad Boy with anger issues. Beau has "loved" (or obsessively fixated on, take your pick) Ashton for years, which is apparently his only redeeming quality. Beau is, somehow, the object of many girl's swoonage, and swoon away, if that's your taste. I just don't get it. I like Alphas. I do. I love it when fictional men are big and strong and have sexy, possessive growls and don't like the heroines hanging out with their attractive exes. But there's a line, and Beau was WAY on the other side of it.

I want to rip his damn arms off his body, Ash. Sawyer, who I'd do anything for. I want to hurt him. If he touches you again in front of me, I'm going to crack. I can't take this. ... Just try not to let him touch you. When he touches you, I see red. I can't take it. I don't want to see him or anyone else touch you. ... Staying with him. Letting him touch you, hold you, God. It's eating me alive.

That's right, Ash. How DARE you let your boyfriend touch you? Stay away from him, or I will morph into my Hulk self and go give him a concussion using only my extraordinarily violent fists (oh wait, that's not until later).

Their whole relationship was messed up. I never felt like I fully understood either character or why they were so desperate to be together. Yes, they were attracted each other. That's it. I also don't like how the book seemed to push the "sinning/bad girl" aspect moreso than being true to yourself. In Ashton's case, the two overlapped, but it was presented as much more of a rebellion. So Ashton wanted to give into her Bad Side. Yeah, everyone has bad urges. Guess what? It's not actually always a good idea to follow through on them. It's certainly not the way to start a healthy relationship. What happens when you're finally in that relationship? If the appeal of the relationship is the Bad Factor, then that factor is gone once you're in it. Do you go after the next guy you feel attracted to because that's giving into your Bad Side? Where does it end?

I was SO FREAKING EXCITED for this book. I like well-written cheating storylines. Which may make me a terrible person, but I do. I love forbidden romances and the self-denial aspect of the story. But if these two were "trying to resist," then I'm a monkey's uncle riding on a pig that is flying over a frozen hell. Because OH MY GOD, these two were all over each other from practically the very beginning of the story. Because they "couldn't resist." Okay, fine. But don't write a cover blurb all about "resisting" when the story doesn't involve that at all.

This book did have a few redeeming qualities. I liked the prologue. In the beginning, even though I was a little put off by their first interaction, I was swooning. I loved the idea of these two so much, and they had a few chemistry-laden moments. And HI, best image ever of sweaty guy with awesome abs mowing a lawn. I thought Beau's thoughts actually sounded like his character. I liked Ashton's interaction with her Grana. Aaand, that's all.

Oh, and bonus! This has nothing at all to do with the plot, but I could not review this book and fail to mention it because I CANNOT EVEN:

Spirit girls were girls the cheerleaders added to their numbers so every football player would have a girl to make him goodies on game day. Off the record, spirit girls also happened to help their players with their homework, order pizzas to be delivered to the school for their lunches, and do some unofficial things like back massages and other “hands-on” activities. The starters always picked their spirit girl first, then the rest of the players’ names went into a hat and the spirit girls drew them.

Yes, you read that right. Apparently the cheerleaders at the high school are basically running a fully sanctioned little slavery/prostitution ring under the name of "spirit girls." Each girl is assigned to two guys (because OF COURSE, the boys have a choice, but the girls have none) and then has to cater to their every whim. That is messed up.

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to lose my breath from the chemistry, my mind from being so wrapped up in these two, my heart from skipping so many beats. The premise promised the kind of story that would do that. Instead, all I lost was the time I wasted reading it.

There are some things you don’t expect to see, and Beau Vincent sauntering into church on a Sunday morning is one of them.

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(Review) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Unravel Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me, #2
Published: February 5, 2013 (HarperCollins)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Hardcover, purchased

Summary: Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance. She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life

Well, it is official! For the first time since my book blogging career began back in December of 2011, I have read a 5 star book (re-reads excepted)! There have been some super close calls (Shatter Me, Outlander, What I Did for a Duke). But Unravel Me was the first that made me give the full-out five-star rating, which I (obviously) save for a very select few books.

I almost filmed a vlog several times over the first couple days after I finished. But I thought if I gave it some time, I would be able to form more coherent, logical thoughts. Because let's just be honest: My review at that point, especially in vlog format, would have been nothing but spoiler-filled, incomprehensible, crazy flailings. Well, it's been some time. It's been more than some time, actually. And it's still difficult to formulate the words for this book.

I'll start with the obvious: Ms. Mafi's writing. The woman absolutely astounds me with her ability to craft words. The cadence, the unique symbolism, the emotion, the way her words flow together. I cannot wrap my brain around how much I love her writing. This was more evident than ever in Unravel Me. I am thoroughly convinced Tahereh Mafi could write a tome on the complexities of soil, and I would read it.

I loved the further development of the secondary characters. Some I decided I did not like (Castle). Some, however, were the complete opposite. For example, Kenji! My love for Kenji grew threefold after reading Unravel Me, and it was already pretty high. I just loved his sense of humor and how he used it, even though he can be serious. I find him a very interesting character, and I hope to continue to get to know him over the next books.

Warner. You knew it was coming. I loved seeing his character developed even further than it was in Destroy Me. I enjoyed every single scene with him in it, and I wanted to see him even more than we did. I became more intrigued by his not-fully-good, but not-fully-evil character. The chemistry between Warner and Juliette was incredible. And just in case you couldn't tell, for me, the SS Adam has officially sunk (or been "destroyed," if you will ;D ). Mafi got me to completely jump ship, and that doesn't happen with me! Admittedly, I am a lot less stubborn regarding the pick-one-and-stick-with-it approach to shipping than I used to be. I'm the queen of multishipping lately; rarely do my loyalties shift so drastically. But Mafi accomplished it. Although I do still like Adam.

There are a few more things I could discuss regarding this book. For instance, the world-building was developed a little further in this book, which I appreciated. But at the same time, I could possibly ramble on forever. It is also very difficult for me to discuss a lot of things without spoiling the book. So I will wrap it up.

To be honest, I was the teensiest bit concerned that maybe Unravel Me wouldn't live up to my sky-high expectations. I needn't have worried. I absolutely plan to read this book again. Probably soon. I've already read Shatter Me and Destroy Me twice. May as well make it even!

The Shatter Me series is hands-down my favorite currently-in-progress YA series. Just catching a glimpse of the Unravel Me spine on my bookcase is still enough to make me want to start physically flailing or take the book out and hug it to me. Which I did off and on for about two days after finishing this book. Shut up. You know you wanted to do it, too. I await #3 (and #2.5, as well!) with a breathlessness that may eventually warrant medical attention. I have no doubt it will be worth it.

It’s the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.*

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But time is beyond our finite comprehension. It’s endless, it exists outside of us; we cannot run out of it or lose track of it or find a way to hold on to it. Time goes on even when we do not.

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I love it when he tells me that he likes the way I feel because it goes against everything I’ve heard my entire life and I wish I could put his words in my pocked just to touch them once in a while and remind myself that they exist.

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I’m checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I’m finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition or even a dangling participle because there doesn’t exist a single response to such an outlandish request.

*Replace "kiss" with "book" and this describes Unravel Me, basically.

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(Review) Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Series: Of Poseidon, #1
Published: May 22, 2012 (Feiwel & Friends)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Hardcover, borrowed from library

Summary: Galen is strong, protective and gorgeous, with striking violet eyes and a body to make you shiver - and that's just when he's in human form. He's from the House of Triton, god of the sea, and he's searching for a girl with the gift of Poseidon to save his brother from marrying a fraud. Emma is a human. Or so she thinks. When Emma meets Galen on the beach, they both sense a sizzling chemistry. But can Galen convince her that she holds the key to his kingdom - without letting on that he's falling for her?

When I started Of Poseidon, I completely expected something super serious with lots of watery brooding. I guess it was the cover, combined with the fact that it was a paranormal. But whatever the reason, my expectations were along certain lines that the book did not end up following. But in this case, I am so glad! It absolutely skyrocketed past my expectations! The book was serious, hilarious, romantic, and captivating, all at once.

I really liked Galen's name, as well as his personality. He was totally cute and awkward. And when he had his paranormal-boy moments of obsessive behavior? Yeah, Emma actually CALLED him on it. WHAT. That's right. You go, Emma! I love that she actually felt comfortable enough with him to do that. And I love that he respected her enough to listen. While they both definitely had their faults, I liked them overall.

Galen's friends and family (who were all basically one unit; even the non-related ones were like family) were such great characters! The interactions between Galen's best friend and his sister were absolutely hilarious, and I loved trying to figure them out.

Banks did some great world-building with the whole story of the Syrena, how being a mermaid works, and all the incredible details. I also liked that the book was told from both Galen and Emma's points of view. However, it was also odd, because Emma narrated in first person while Galen's sections were told in third. I didn't like that at all; it was jarring.

And then we have The Ending. I was pacing back and forth on the sidewalk in front of my house while I read it, and when I reached the end, I slammed to a halt and literally shouted, "WHAT?!" Because it was the end. I had thought it was a standalone. But it was all over. Finished. And I was left dangling off a cliff of epic proportions, and when I raced inside to Goodreads, I discovered how long it was going to be until the next one. May 28th? YEAH, MAY AS WELL BE NEXT CENTURY. (I'm nothing if not invested in my books.)

But massive cliffhanger nonwithstanding, I loved Of Poseidon! This was my first mermaid book, and I could not have imagined a better introduction into the subgenre. There was a little bit too much cheese at times, but not overwhelming amounts. While Of Poseidon definitely had its serious moments, it did a tremendous job of showing that paranormal books don't have to be angst-ridden to be great.

I’m betting Cinderella didn’t feel this foolish, but then again, Cinderella wasn’t as clumsy as an intoxicated walrus.

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I’m betting Cinderella didn’t feel this foolish, but then again, Cinderella wasn’t as clumsy as an intoxicated walrus.

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I mean, life-changing decisions take time to make. Time and meditation. And physical space between my lips and his.

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(Review) Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams

Title: Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous
Author: Kathryn Williams
Published: August 21, 2012 (Henry Holt and Co.)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Hardcover, borrowed from the library

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Sophie Nicolaides was practically raised in the kitchen of her family’s Italian-Greek restaurant, Taverna Ristorante. When her best friend, Alex, tries to convince her to audition for a new reality show, Teen Test Kitchen, Sophie is reluctant. But the prize includes a full scholarship to one of America's finest culinary schools and a summer in Napa, California, not to mention fame.

Once on-set, Sophie immediately finds herself in the thick of the drama—including a secret burn book, cutthroat celebrity judges, and a very cute French chef. Sophie must figure out a way to survive all the heat and still stay true to herself.

I was so excited for Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous! What a fun idea! As a self-proclaimed Chopped addict (even though I don't like any other reality shows unless they involve dancing), I was definitely looking forward to this one. The story sounded so cute, and how completely adorable is that cover?

While it was not exactly what I was expecting, Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous delivered on the cuteness level. Which I desperately needed, as I had recently finished sobbing for basically 2.5 hours straight because I went to see Les Mis. It was an entertaining little story with lots of fun drama and antics. Stick a bunch of teenagers in a high-stress environment with little-to-no privacy in which to express their thoughts? Oh, you're going to have drama. But it was pretty authentic. I could see this being a show on the cooking channel. In fact, it would probably be more interesting than several of the shows I've seen (well, at least previews) on the Food Network.

I really enjoyed reading about Sophie's family. Sophie had a large family who owned and ran their Greek-Italian restaurant. I liked the whole atmosphere. While her family could be a bit much, she still loved them. The whole restaurant crew as well as Sophie's best friend Alex were basically treated like part of the family, as well, and they would sometimes sit down to these gigantic, crazy dinners. I felt like I was there in the middle of the chaos, and I loved it!

As for the love story, there are actually some twists you might not expect from the summary, and I don't want to give anything away. But I thought it was interesting how it all played out, even though I was totally convinced of something that was not the case at one point. Although I wasn't a fan of the execution, I did wind up liking the way it ended.

Perhaps my favorite thing about the entire book was the recipes it included! I was so happy about that! I feel like it would be worth buying for the recipes alone. Several of the recipes included looked delicious, and I only wish it had included more.

Overall, I enjoyed Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous. Word of advice, though: I would not recommend reading while you're hungry! Or if so, make sure you have some great ingredients handy, because this book will make you want to embrace your culinary skills (no matter how imaginary they may be) and whip up something delicious.

For the first time, I understood what romance novels meant by “swooning.”

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Everyone knows sleep deprivation makes for good reality television.

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Baking is a very different skill than cooking. It requires precision and the ability to follow directions. Baking is for the obsessive-compulsive.
(I laughed really hard at this one. So true! It certainly explains why I love baking so much more than cooking.)

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Friday Five: YA Edition (#04)

Book: The Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey
Published: February 10, 2009 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I like fairy tale retellings when they're well done, and The Wild Orchid was such a good one! The story of Mulan has always been a favorite of mine, so I was excited to stumble across this at the library. It read super fast, and I enjoyed it. The author built a believable world and culture in the short number of pages. The writing was gorgeous, which was a very pleasant surprise!

While our heart’s rhythm may seem steady, so steady that we take it for granted, this does not mean the heart is not also full of wonders and surprises.

Book: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Published: January 1, 2010 (Point)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: Confession time: I don't like the Beatles (though I do love the Across the Universe soundtrack). I had no idea this was a Beatles reference, or I probably would not have picked it up. Thankfully, though, even though Penny was Beatles-obsessed, that in no way turned me off the book! I like it quite a bit. While some of the dialogue seemed a little stilted, Eulberg had a really great cadence to her writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. Penny stood up for some great things and learned a lot of good lessons throughout the story. It was a cute one!

I wondered if it would’ve been too subtle to wear a T-shirt that said Thank you for your interest, but I am no longer dating.

Book: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Series: Sweet Trilogy, #1
Published: May 1, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Thoughts: Sweet Evil was a super-quick, super-addicting read. I sped through it in a flash. It had an interesting premise. The two main characters had some great chemistry. Higgins had an interesting habit of combining two words into one such as "bloodred" of "superfast," which I actually wound up liking, because it made Anna's voice more authentic. I could totally hear her thinking like that. However, Higgins was entirely too fond of pronouns; there were two scenes (one of which was possibly on purpose) where I had no idea who it was who was actually speaking the lines. It really took me out of the story. Other than that, though, I liked it.

Wowza. He was smokin’ hot. As in H-O-T-T hott. I’d never understood until that moment why girls insisted on adding an extra T. This guy was extra-T worthy.

Book: Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Published: July 21, 2011 Razorbill/Penguin
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: Ripple fell smack dab in the middle of "average" for me. It wasn't by any means terrible, but it wasn't great. My favorite thing was probably the premise, followed closely by the fact that it had an older heroine (18). The romance was good, although I wanted more from it. In fact, I really wanted more from several aspects of this book. More characterization for the MC, her best friend, and the love interest. More character development from the MC. It had a pretty good twist and a fairly enjoyable story, though.

I pretend to be apologetic, but I suspect my dopey smile counters that impression.

Book: Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy
Published: May 1, 2012 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: I had conflicting thoughts on Being Friends With Boys. The summary was extremely misleading, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. One of the things that I didn't like about this book was that it always felt like something was about to happen. But nothing really ever did. There was all this (really subtle, relying on guesswork) build up around the supposed love triangle, and by the end, I honestly didn't care about the romance. Not a bit. I honestly think I would have enjoyed the story more without it (aaand there was the sound of jaws dropping around the world because YES, I JUST SAID THAT). My favorite thing about this book is how McVoy sneaks up on you with some original, lyrical turns of phrase you totally aren't expecting. It kind of reminded me of Elizabeth Scott. I also think Char was an interesting character, and I liked reading about her, her friendships, and the whole band element.

Oliver smiles. That slow, full-lipped, wide-mouth one he has that takes up half his face, not showing any teeth. The one that crawls into his deep blue eyes from the bottom.

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(Review) Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Publish Date: March 26, 2013 (Bloomsbury)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Digital galley provided by publisher via NetGalley

Summary: When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time, when boys couldn't cheat on you online. She sets out to complete The List: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel.

I cannot even tell you how long I have been waiting for Going Vintage. Since last summer, at least, because I did a Waiting on Wednesday featuring it last August. I just loved the whole idea. I adore vintage and antique things. I have thought about taking technology hiatuses before. Throw in the most adorable cover ever, an interesting event catalyst, and a love interest who happens to be the ex's cousin? Yeah, I'm so there.

Going Vintage wound up being worth the wait! Mallory's inner monologue was freaking hilarious! She was so straightforward and refreshing, and I really enjoyed being inside her head. Even though she was far from perfect, Mallory always had good intentions. I also loved her relationship with her little sister, Ginnie. Ginnie was fantastic. She was a total crazy health nut super awesome soccer player - and therefore basically everything I'm not - but I really liked her. The scenes between her and Mallory were some of the best in the book.

And then there was Oliver. I've never seen a YA boy like him. It's actually really difficult to describe him, but he was incredibly endearing, funny, and different. And, to pull a quote from the book, he was "a pen-and-paper lister, a beautiful and dying breed." Which always amounts to extra brownie points in my book.

Really, my only problem with this book was that there was a lot going on, and it wound up feeling kind of disjointed and chaotic at times. There were basically three big storylines, but the focus dedicated to each was inconsistent. I would have liked a lot more with Oliver, a little more with her grandmother, and less with her parents. Or perhaps for them to just be dealt with a little differently. I had issues with her parents, but I liked the element of realism it added, because obviously not all families are perfect.

Overall, I was a fan of Going Vintage. It was one of the most interesting premises in a YA contemporary I've seen in a while. Since Mallory was already a vintage clothing junkie with dad who dealt with antiques, it went really well with her character, too. Going Vintage was a cute, original read that would be a good addition to anyone's spring reading list. Also, I just discovered there's a whole Tumblr inspired by this book, so go check it out!

...I’m with Jeremy. I love writing that. It says that I’m his and he’s mine, and between the lines there is belonging something I didn’t feel at Orange Park High School until we started dating.

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Lists add a number to randomness, give ideas the illusion of order.

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You can’t trust a guy showing off more cleavage than you.

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I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t want to know the answer unless I know the answer is what I want it to be, and I don’t know what I want him to want.

*All quotes from ARC or galley, so final copy may be slightly different.

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(Review) Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker

Title: Unbreak My Heart
Author: Melissa C. Walker
Published: May 22, 2012 (Bloomsbury USA Children's)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Hardcover, borrowed from the library

Summary: Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

I went into Unbreak My Heart with fairly high hopes, because several people I trust had loved it. I quite enjoyed it overall; it was a good summer read with a great message. I really wish I could have been floating along on my own boat under the sun while reading it, but alas, I was wrapped up in a blanket in the basement. It was a nice escape read, though.

I did have one serious issue with the book that kept me from the massive amounts of love I would have had for it otherwise, and that was Clem. Her behavior was so annoying! Yes, she had a lot of crap going on, and I felt bad for her situation. But seriously. This chick took whining to a whole new level, and her tantrum throwing abilities could rival a 3-year-old's. I'm sorry, but if I had acted that selfish and bratty when I was 16, my parents would have ensured that there were consequences to that behavior. I appreciate that it added some realism in that she wasn't unrealistically mature about the situation. But I really could not fully empathize with a character who would actually act like that. Thankfully, part of the story was about growing as a person, and Clem did so. She became more likable as the story went on and she learned to deal with things.

If there could be an element to help balance out this negativity, Unbreak My Heart had it...in the form of James. James, of the red hair and freckles and smiles and incredible wonderfulness. I LOVED him. So much. He was so sweet and fun, yet at the same time, he wasn't shallow or lame. He was so earnest and endearing. One of my favorite YA boys I had read in a long time.

I also really liked Clem's family, which was a good thing, since she was stuck on a boat with them. Olive, her little sister, was so darling! She was one of those 10-going-on-40 girls, with her glasses and ways of being old beyond her years. Yet she was still a young girl and a total little sister. I liked Clem's mom with her hilarious relying on the cookbook A Man, a Can, and a Plan (which is a legitimate book, actually, much to my surprise).

Although I didn't love Unbreak My Heart as much as some other people did, I really liked it a lot! The "boat people" and all-around atmosphere was one of my favorite elements, original and seemingly authentic. There was a good point to the story. I am still harboring incredible amounts of love for James. I also really enjoyed how it was told in alternating chapters of past/present. All-in-all, I am definitely glad I read Unbreak My Heart.

Still, crazy people can be fun – especially during a summer when the sane ones aren’t really speaking to you.

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I didn't realize that, sometimes, even if a situation is getting out of control, it happens slowly, in these really small moments. And even if what’s happening is wrong, it can feel like it's right.

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I cannot include enough adjectives to get this feeling down. It involves fireworks, shooting stars, and sparklers on the dock, and it doesn't even feel like an exaggeration.

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(Review) Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Title: Shut Out
Author: Kody Keplinger
Published: September 5, 2011 (Poppy)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Hardcover borrowed from the library

Summary: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

I had so much fun reading this book! Shut Out was like book crack for me. I picked it up, and then it was just like someone had glued it to my hands to the front and back covers because I COULD NOT put it down. I didn't want to! In fact, when I looked up at the clock after finishing it, I was shocked to discover I read it at nearly twice my "average" reading speed. It just went by so quickly! I was totally immersed in the story.

Basically, I picked it up because I had read The DUFF a few weeks earlier and enjoyed it, so I looked up Kody Keplinger. And I saw the premise for this book, went YES, PLEASE, and promptly requested it from the library. I was not disappointed! In fact, I wound up liking it quite a bit more than The DUFF.

The entire idea behind this book was vaguely based on Lysistrata, a Greek play by Aristophanes (which I actually knew, because my school did a production of it last year). Basically, it equates to: take sex away from guys, and they'll do whatever you want to get it back. Of course, that's only the founding idea, and it never quite works out like the girls expect. It's a battle of wills between the girls and the guys, and it can be a basis for a lot of fun. It can also get out of hand, which it did in Shut Out. However, I enjoyed the way the story was handled. I also really liked a lot of the message behind the things the girls - and guys - involved learned. I also love that the book was self-aware and referenced Lysistrata more than once.

One of my favorite thing about the book was how the situation strengthened the friendships of some of the girls and brought others together who would never have been interacting otherwise. I think it was believable in that both negative and positive things came about from the situation. There were also really interesting minor subplots happening with some of the girls and their boyfriends.

As for the main characters, I really liked them! Lissa was great. I love that she edited her books while reading them. I habitually do that mentally, and there are occasional books that are so bad I feel like I need a red pen with me while I read so I can send it back to the copy editor when I'm finished. I also really love that Lissa loved Atonement. It made me want to go back and read and/or watch it, which I haven't done for years.

Aaand then there's Cash. Okay, so, full disclosure? Cash was SCARILY like this guy I had a gargantuan crush on for basically the entirety of high school. The full name was very similar, the appearance as described was basically identical, and a lot of Cash's behavior reminded me of the way this guy acted. So yeah. There was that element that is totally personal and subjective, and it probably added to my enjoyment of the Cash part of the storyline and made me love him more than I already would have. But really, if she would have slapped auburn hair and a different name on him? I honestly would have still loved him as a character and wanted him with Lissa, because their chemistry was fabulous.

Basically, Shut Out was just great all-around. It was thoroughly addicting, and I enjoyed the ridiculously short amount of time it took me to get through it.

Great. He was a hottie, a good kisser, and a literature buff. God really must have a sense of humor...

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It struck me how inappropriate it was to have this conversation in front of so many Bibles.

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(Review) Hooked by Liz Fichera

Title: Hooked
Author: Liz Fichera
Series: Hooked #1
Published: January 29, 2013 (Harlequin Teen)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Digital galley provided by publisher via NetGalley

Summary: When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...

When I saw the premise of Hooked, I was extremely excited for it. Native American heroine? She plays golf? On an all-guys team? And there's totally hate-to-love potential? I am SO there! Unfortunately, while it was a pretty good read, Hooked failed to deliver on a lot of levels I felt like I was promised.

The romance was tepid; Fred and Ryan's relationship developed in weird spurts that made no sense. The hate-to-love aspect was negated because Ryan stopped "hating" her almost immediately, and they had little chemistry. But my main problem? SO MUCH DRAMA. Seriously. I was unrepentantly hooked on Guiding Light (a soap opera, for those of you sad, sad people who are unaware) for a lengthy period of time, and I love Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. But when it comes to books, I don't like drama for the sake of drama. I mean, if I see from the cover blurb that the contents of a book are going to be a big bag of WTFery, I go in with my eyes open. I'm expecting it. But if it's a "normal" book but with random huge bouts of pointless drama thrown in to mix things up? Drives me crazy. This book had drama in spades, mainly stemming from Seth, a character who achieved the remarkably unique distinction of being simultaneously horrendously dull and an awful human being. And who also happened to be Ryan's best friend. I also had some serious issues with the conclusion (which I purposefully use instead of "resolution") of the book.

One odd thing about Hooked was the way it was written. Several times in the first bit of the book, there were annotations with footnotes of comments or definitions at the bottom of the page. One was written from Fred's POV, almost like it was a diary and she added a reader's guide. It was a little odd, but I kind of liked it. I could have gotten behind it as an approach, but the others all read like a dictionary definition (and were pointless, to boot. Really, like we couldn't figure out that "Rez" was short for Reservation. It seemed like the author couldn't get the information in there without committing the reader's nightmare of infodumping in the middle of the prose...so she came up with a more ~innovative~ way to do so). Other than that, though, I had no problems with the writing style. She used the alternating first-person POV approach, which I enjoyed and thought worked well for the story, and her writing was good and solid.

I know I have been overwhelmingly negative so far, because there were a lot of things about the book that bothered me. However! There were things that I really did like about Hooked. It addressed some real issues throughout, and that is something I appreciated about it. Fred dealt with racial discrimination in various forms (such as Seth calling her "Pocahontas" all the time). Ryan had issues with his parents, and Fred was living with an alcoholic mother. Fred also dealt a lot with the issue of her future and whether or not to stay on the Rez. To stay would mean she would be with her family and heritage, but to go would actually mean the possibility of a real career and more options available to her.

I also really liked the siblings of both the characters. Fred had an older brother about whom I was curious (and wish I would have learned more), and Ryan had a little sister. I loved her! I am also super excited to find out she is getting her own book. I will definitely be reading it.

One of my favorite aspects was that quite a large portion of the book took place on the Rez. And it was in Arizona very near a Navajo Rez where I stayed for a week-long trip a few years ago. It made me incredibly happy, because that's one of my favorite places ever. I live in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest, so I can always easily see stars clearly. But the stars there were like nothing I had ever seen. Absolutely incredible. I loved the air there, the clean lack of humidity, the peaceful silence, the beauty of the sand and mountains. And I loved that this book transported me back there. Even though a lot about the situation and Rez itself was not pleasant, I could vividly picture the scene in my head, which I appreciated.

Overall, I liked Hooked, but it was a very mixed success, as there were also a lot of things that bothered me. However, if you go into it expecting a dramatic story less centered on romance and more focused on two individuals telling their stories, I feel like it would be a lot more enjoyable.

It was the only thing that I could truly control, and for that reason I clung to it while everything else spun around me dull and lifeless, just like it was the day before I’d kissed Ryan Berenger and thought that I was special.

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(Review) The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #2
Published: October 23, 2012 (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Digital ARC from publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!)

Summary: Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren't.

She couldn't imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

*Warning: This review contains mild spoilers for the first in the series. Do not read unless you have read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

What a tremendous in second installation in the trilogy! Although I was captivated by the first book in the series, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, it fell short in some ways for me. Evolution, however, exceeded my expectations. It was slightly less creepy, which I appreciated, but still just as thrilling and intense. (Seriously. I was alone in the house, curled up into a breathless, tension-filled ball on the downstairs couch for most of it. When I did finish it, my bladder was about to explode, and it was 2 hours past my normal dinner time. Talk about unputdownable!)

Interestingly, I liked almost all the characters better in this book than the first one. Noah was definitely the biggest one. I really tried to like him in Unbecoming because I kept seeing people talk about how amazing he was, but although he had some redeeming qualities, I was less than impressed. In Evolution, though, I grew to love him a lot more. He finally had some depth as a character and acted a lot less like a boy I'd like to punch in the face. I also liked Jamie more in this book; he annoyed me before.

The relationship between Mara and Noah was developed in a way that made me root for them. Although they displayed some codependency, which is popular in YA novels and always annoys me, they were also in nowhere near normal circumstances. Therefore, I could excuse it. They also had some pretty darn swoon-worthy scenes and sexual tension for a YA book, too. Loved it!

Story-wise, this book had some crazy twists and turns! There were some I saw coming and still jumped when they happened. If Hodkin excels at anything, it is writing jaw-dropping, hit-you-over-the-head, OH-MY-GOD-DID-I-REALLY-JUST-READ-THAT-RIGHT scenes.

If the trilogy keeps improving like this, I cannot wait to see what is in store in the concluding book, The Retribution of Mara Dyer (out WAY WAY FAR AWAY D: Summer 2013)!

Random note: I did not notice #213 in this book. I wonder if all the uses of it in Unbecoming were just coincidence, or if it is going to come into play in the next book?

How about an Obi-Wan slash Gandalf slash Dumbledore slash Giles?

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Sometimes the biggest secrets you can only tell a stranger.

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Just because you can’t prove something doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

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“We’re only seventeen.”
“Fuck seventeen. If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

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