Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life (Summary taken from goodreads)

When I started this book, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it. I had friends that thought it was absolutely amazing, but then my best friend, well she hated it. Actually, she despises it with a passion. So, what did I think? Well, I actually really enjoyed it! I borrowed the book from a friend and she told me, “Oh, it’s really slow in the beginning, but it gets better as it goes on.” Personally, I thought it started off really strong and stayed that way throughout the book. I couldn’t find a dull moment in this one whatsoever.

            The characters were what made it interesting. Personally, I love Patch. He was a total jerk, I’ll admit to that, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but love him as a character. Sure, he teased Nora and pushed her buttons, but it seemed more playful than anything. He was also one of those dark characters with a hidden past, but it was definitely intriguing. I actually liked Nora too. Most times if I like the male main character, I usually dislike the female one. However, Nora seemed really level-headed. She didn’t complain constantly about Patch (though she did get annoyed with him) and she wasn’t a total ditz. I also really liked Nora’s friend Vee. She was hilarious! She definitely enhanced the story in many ways.

            The writing style was phenomenal! I though Fitzpatrick did a great job. It wasn’t choppy or over descriptive. The storyline itself was interesting as well. Again, I wasn’t really sure about this book. I mean fallen angels? It just seemed a bit cliché because it feels like most books nowadays are about fallen angels who fall in love with a human. Though, when I read Hush, Hush the fallen angel thing didn’t really bother me. To be honest, I hardly noticed it. So, thumbs up for the story line :) I also really like the cover! I’m not a huge fan of his hair (weird, I know), but I really, really like the wings. They look so cool!

            Overall, I am so glad my friend let me borrow Hush, Hush. I would recommend it to those who enjoy a mix of action and romance (which it certainly had the perfect balance of!) I’m also looking forward to reading the sequel, which I still have to get my hands on! Anyway, I would check this one out! If you’ve read it or not, let me know what you think! :)

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.  In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must choose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day... (Summary taken from goodreads)

After reading Evermore, I had high expectations for Blue Moon. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. Just like with Evermore, this book had me hooked from the start. I could not put it down! It was one of those books that you tell yourself you’ll one read one more chapter and then you realize twenty minutes later that you’ve read seven more. Now, not everyone likes this series, but I for one love it!

            The characters were amazing as usual. I really loved how Noel introduced a new character into the mix: Roman. He was so mysterious, sort of like Damen. I wasn’t sure how to feel about him. I liked him sometimes and hated him others. Damen, as always, stole my heart once again. Though, I still really hate how hot and cold he can be, I can’t help but love him. I really enjoyed Ever in this book. She seemed to be breaking out of her shell more. In the first one, she kept to herself so much, but in this one she definitely burst out a bit more. It was a nice change.

            The storyline itself was really creative. I don’t know how she does it, but Noel crammed so much into that book! There is never a dull moment. It’s just this string of events that gets you hooked. The ending was great! Though, I was wicked mad! There was a huge twist! Which, of course, I’m not going to tell you about :)

            I just got the third one in the series Shadowland, so I’m very excited. I need to know what happens next! If you enjoyed Evermore, then definitely read Blue Moon. You won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t started this series, then what are you waiting for?! Check it out! If you read this book or enjoyed the review, be sure to let me know! :)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act (Summary taken from goodreads).

that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival

            Water for Elephants is my favorite book and that's saying something. I love most of the books I read, but not many of them make it onto my favorite list. I absolutely devoured this novel. I had borrowed the book from the library and then as soon as I finished it, I went out and bought it. Strange? I know, but it was that good! It’s one of those books that I want to keep and read over and over again. I fell in love with it from page one and from there on, I couldn’t stop. This was one of those books that just grabs a hold of you and refuses to let go. It was also one of those books that didn’t have a dull moment. The action took off right from the prologue.

            The storyline was fantastic. It really gave an inside view to circus life during the great depression, a time when they were extremely popular. Basically, the story was told through the memories of Jacob Jankowski, who is now ninety or ninety three, he can’t remember. After a few chapters on his life in the circus, it would switch back to his life in the nursing home. I thought this was an interesting perspective, because as I read, I sympathized with both Jacob as a young and old man. The story was also pretty out there. It focused on many of the “freaks” of the circus, but by doing that, it brought the reader into another fascinating world.

            The characters were amazing! I loved Jacob. He was probably my favorite out of all of them. He had this innocence about him, but at the same time he was willing to fight for what he loved. All at once, Jacob's life took a turn for the worst. You just can’t help but feel bad for him. Marlena was such a sweetheart. She cared about everyone, which is something I really admired about her. Yet, this same quality was a bit of a downfall for her. She never wanted to see anyone get hurt. I would say more, but then I would be giving away some spoilers, so you’ll just have to read it and find out what I mean. There was also August, Marlena’s husband. In some aspects, he could be considered the antagonist, but he didn’t bother me. Sure, he could be quite a jerk at times, but I thought he enhanced the story. He definitely added to the drama of it all. Finally, there’s Rosie the elephant. She was adorable!  Gruen gives her such a sense of humor; it’s actually kind of cute. From the moment she was introduced, you can’t help, but love her. She was just that great!

            The writing style was phenomenal. Gruen provided the perfect amount of description. Sometimes writers add too much and then it just drags on and sometimes they don’t add enough! However, Gruen did a fantastic job. There was a bit of obscenity throughout the book, but it wasn’t obscene for the point of being obscene. It was woven into the storyline and belonged there. Overall, Gruen had me on my seat the entire time. I just had to know what happened next!

            So my suggestion: READ THIS BOOK! Seriously, it’s amazing. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s a great story that truly reaches in and touches your heart. The characters interact wonderfully and like I said, Rosie is adorable :) So be sure to check this one out! I highly recommend it!

Also, Water for Elephants has been made into a movie!!! It features Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson and is set to come out April 22nd. I'm super excited for the movie and can't wait to see it! Check out the trailer below :)

Matched by Ally Condie

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. (Summary taken from goodreads)

            To be truthful, I really didn’t enjoy this book. My best friend had been reading and she told me how much she loved it and how good it was.  Knowing how honest she is about books (and she’s honest! If she hated a book, she’ll say it), I figured if it was really that good, I’ll give it a try. It started off strong, but for me, it faded towards the end and it lost its appeal. It wasn’t awful or anything, it just didn’t reach my expectations.

            The storyline itself was interesting.  It focuses around this perfect society where everything is chosen for you. The people that live there really don’t have a say in anything, but they are fully aware of what’s going on. The one thing I really didn’t like about the story was that it felt like it had an undertone of fascism. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but that is definitely what the Society seemed to be. For those of you who don’t know what fascism is, it is, according to the Encarta Dictionary, any movement, ideology, or attitude that favors dictatorial government, centralized control of private enterprise, repression of all opposition, and extreme nationalism. Basically, it’s a dictator that controls almost all aspects society. Though Matched had no set dictator, the Officials, which were the head of the Society, definitely had some major control factors. They controlled where people worked, what they ate, when their recreation time was, and so on. They also were against people acting out against the Society and going against the rules. See the possible connections to fascism? I’m not saying that was the author’s purpose, in fact, it might have been unintentional, but that’s how I felt when I read it. The idea of this “perfect world” also kind of freaked me out. I can’t begin to imagine being told what to do by someone else. It would be too weird.

            The characters were okay. Cassia was great in the beginning, but after she sees Ky and starts to fall for him, she got annoying. Her feelings for Ky and Xander just kept being dragged on and on and it started to get boring. I loved Xander though. He was so sweet and he really cared about Cassia. He was willing to do anything for her. Ky, I didn’t really like. He was so up and down with the way he acted with her, that I was ready to shout, “Stop all ready!” Therefore, overall, the characters really didn’t do it for me.

            However, I did enjoy the writing style. The storyline flowed smoothly and I wasn’t lost in anyway whatsoever. I really appreciated the fact that she described the different processes in the society. It made the story easier to follow and actually, it made it kind of interesting too. The writing was definitely a great part of the book.

            So, I didn't think this book wasn’t the greatest, but I’m not going to lie, I would probably read the sequel. I still want to know what happens next. I wouldn’t buy it though. I would wait for it to come out at the library and then borrow it. Still, many people have found this book quite great, so I guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself!

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.            

The Lying Game is Sara Shepard’s second series for young adults. (Summary taken from goodreads)

           

         

  After reading the entire Pretty Little Liars series, I was extremely excited to find out that Sara Shepard was coming out with a new book! So, when it was released, I went right out and bought it. As I read, I found myself rather disappointed. Maybe my expectations were set too high, but I had really anticipated a better story. Pretty Little Liars had kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, so I expected The Lying Game would do the same. Needless to say, it didn’t.

            The book itself was good. I still really enjoyed it and I love Sara Shepard as an author. The storyline was very creative and I found myself imaging what it would be like to be in Emma’s position. I mean traveling all that way to find out your long-lost twin sister is dead? How awful would that be? Still, I can’t blame Emma for trying to find her sister. She had been bounced around from foster family to foster family, so the idea that she might have a sister was pretty much a dream come true for her.

            The story itself was told from Sutton’s perspective as she was trying to piece together what had happened to her. This confused me so much. I kept thinking that it was Emma who was narrating and that we were seeing everything through her eyes. Yet, that wasn’t the case. Once I figured that out, I started understanding the book better. Also, the fact that no one seemed to notice that Emma was taking Sutton’s place was bizarre. Sure, they were identical twin sisters, but they wouldn’t have been the same in every single way. Plus, Emma barely knows anything about Sutton’s life, so wouldn’t that be an obvious sign that something was up?

            While this book lacked in romance, it certainly held mystery. Like the mysterious boy Ethan who Emma starts falling for. I was disappointed that spark between them didn’t ignite and grow into something bigger, but then again, since this is a series, I’m hoping something more will happen in the books to come. Ethan wasn’t the only mysterious one. Sutton’s group of friends also had their own secrets too. Guess we’ll just have to wait and find out what they’re hiding, huh?

            The Lying Games also seemed to parallel Pretty Little Liars in some cases. If you’ve ever read Pretty Little Liars (and don’t worry, this isn’t spoiler) or have heard of the book, then you know it’s about four girls with all of these secrets. As I read The Lying Game, I started to notice it had a bit of the same concept. Sutton, her two best friends, and her sister, had their own little group and like I mentioned before, they all had their own secrets. Plus, this book, just like all of the Pretty Little Liars left so many questions to be asked and loose ends to tie up. So what is the Lying Game? Guess you’re going to have to read it and find out. Which I recommend that you do. It was enjoyable book and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies. (Summary taken from goodreads)

            From the moment that I picked up this book, I could not put it down. I was completely and utterly absorbed in it. So absorbed, I literally read it in one day. Noel did such an amazing job in crafting an intense story that has the reader begging for more. Trust me, when I finished this book, I didn’t want it to end. It was really and truly that good!

            As far as the characters, let’s start with Ever. Personally, I thought Ever was a great character. She really fit the profile of someone who had lost their entire family in one tragic moment.  Yet, she doesn’t just sit around and mope, whine, and complain. I can’t blame her either for not wanting those powers. It’s not like she needs more to deal with. At times she could get a little paranoid about Damen, which tended to get annoying, but other than that, she was great!

            Now, for Damen, the mysterious, gorgeous new guy that shows up in Ever’s life. Everyone is head over heels for him, but he only wants one girl: Ever. I loved Damen. There were times that I truly wished he was real as I read. What I liked about him was that he despite being all mysterious, he was wicked sweet and friendly. He just had some deep, dark secrets that he was hiding. The one aspect that drove me insane was how hot and cold he was. I couldn’t stand it! First he liked Ever, then he didn’t, then he would disappear and then show back up again. It could get really bothersome, but still, it didn’t stop me from loving him as a character.

            The storyline itself was amazing. There were all these twists and turns that I never expected.There was so much to it! The book was only three hundred pages or so, but it seemed to go on forever. Not in the way that it drags on, but in the way that the story just keeps on unraveling that it seems like there’s no end. At times, there was so much happening that I tended to get a tad confused and lost, but it’s not too bad. Everything would smooth itself out and I’d be right back on track. I certainly recommend this book! It was such a great read and I can’t wait to pick up the sequel Blue Moon!

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?" (Summary taken from goodreads)

             The story was amazing. Eddie is this grumpy, old man, who has pretty much given up in life. He has a limp leg from being shot during war, his wife died years ago, and he’s been working at the same amusement park for as long as he can remember. Then, one day, as he was going along his normal routine, a cable on one the ride snaps and the cart comes hurtling to the ground. There’s just one thing standing in its path. A little girl. As Eddie jumps underneath to save her, he risks his own life. Now in heaven, he meets five people who each teach him a different, but important lesson that proves that he had a purpose in life.         

            The Five People You Meet in Heaven is such a deep and meaningful book. Albom crafted a well written story that had me hooked from the beginning. Each character was unique and interesting. I enjoyed how Eddie met all of these different people who each taught him a lesson. Each of the five people he met, he either knew or somehow indirectly affected their life without actually knowing it. The characters were interesting and I liked the perspective Albom gave them. Each character gave their own story and then showed Eddie what role they played in his life.

            I loved the plot because I thought it was extremely original. It was interesting to consider the idea of meeting five people in heaven who teach you a lesson. As I read, I wondered, if I was in heaven, who would my five people be? Would one be a family member, a friend, someone I had met briefly, or a complete stranger whose life I impacted in some way, shape or form? It’s one of those ideas that are interesting to think about.

            There was no set setting. Each time Eddie moved from person to person, the setting would change. I enjoyed the change in settings though, because it added to the story. The reader gets to experience this new experience as Eddie was experiencing it himself (if that makes any sense at all). Still, it was very enjoyable.

            Overall, this book touched my heart. It had me laughing at times and crying at others. It’s a quick read, but I think it’s good for people of all ages. Not only is it a great story, but it has such a deep meaning too. I would definitely suggest this book. Let me know what you think!

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Denis Cooverman is your typical high school nerd. He’s extremely smart, socially awkward, and not too great with the ladies. He also happens to be graduating as valedictorian of his class. When the big day rolls around, he decides to take a risk with the speech and in the middle of it says, “I Love You, Beth Cooper.” Everyone is shocked. They never expected Denis Cooverman to do something so….daring. Yet he did.

          After graduation is over, Beth Cooper, the blond hair, blue eyed cheerleader that Denis is absolutely in love with comes up to him, angry with him for proclaiming his love for her in front of the entire senior class, their parents, and the teachers. She found the speech embarrassing, yet at the same time extremely sweet. So, Denis decides to invite her to the graduation party he was having at his house that night.

            As Denis is preparing with his best friend Rick, Beth and her two friends Treece and Cammy, decide to show up. From the moment the trio steps in the door, chaos takes place. First it’s Beth’s crazy boyfriend Kevin going after Denis, to traveling all across the city in one wild night of fun. Denis gets to see Beth in a way he had never seen before and it only took four little words...

            I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle was a hilarious book that I tore through in just a few days. Personally, I thought the story line was great, a little bit unrealistic at times, but absolutely hilarious nonetheless. The idea was extremely creative and the story was crafted very well. The build up to his speech was so suspenseful. Everyone knew that he was going to say, “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” but no one expected that he would go on and on about it or that she would even show up to his party. The characters were great. A bit cliché, considering the nerd falls for the cheerleader, but I think that’s what made the story so funny. She was completely out his league, yet, as she spent the time getting to know him, she realized that he was more than just brains. One of my favorite parts of the book was the fact that at the beginning of each chapter, there would be a cartoon drawing of Denis. Each time, it was worse and worse because of everything that he kept going through. It was an intelligent touch. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had my laughing out loud so much, even in public, that people would give me weird looks. Still, I recommend this book for a light hearted and fun read. I think it’s good for teens both male and female. Definitely have to check this one out!

            The book was also turned into a movie which I just so happened to see. I actually read the book because I wanted to see the movie, which I usually don’t do. I hate reading books, then seeing the movie, then being disappointed because it wasn’t nearly as good as I hoped it would be. However, that wasn’t the case with this movie. For the most part, the movie stayed pretty close to the book, which surprised me. I hadn’t expected it to stay as close as it had. The end was definitely changed, but up to those last moments, it was nearly word for word. Okay, so I’m probably exaggerating a bit there, but it was extremely close. So if you enjoyed the book, you should see the movie and if you’ve seen the movie, then read the book! Either way, if anyone reads it or sees it, let me know what you think!