Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This e-galley was provided by Netgalley and Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss-a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending years performing on cue, Emma can’t help but wonder if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her romances. She’s been burned by heartthrobs (and the press) one too many times, but there’s something about Emma’s co-star on her new TV show Coyote Hills that is irresistible. Jake Elliott is gorgeous, smart and actually cares about Emma’s charitable foundation. But she’s sworn off on-set relationships. They always end badly . . . don’t they?

I loved the premise of this book, especially because the behind-the-scenes aspect of a young actress’ life fascinated me. Also, I thought it would be fun to watch the protagonist fall for a guy she didn’t plan to fall for.

What I liked best about this book is that it was both cute and clean. Emma’s life as a popular actress is not simple by any means, but she’s level-headed and grateful and remains true to herself. Though she sometimes struggles with her mom, who is also her manager, she has a close relationship with her family. She’s respectful and kind to her coworkers and to the crew. Emma is not without her flaws, but she is definitely endearing.

Jake Elliott is a gentleman. He and Emma are friends, first and foremost, and I appreciated that. I thought the alternating perspectives (Emma’s and Jake’s) was really well done. I enjoyed being in their heads.

The book is also funny. The supporting characters (Brett and Kimmi) weren’t as well-developed as Emma and Jake, and sometimes came across as flat or stereotypical, but for the most part I liked the dynamics of the group and their drama. Toward the end the plot dragged a little, and I think I would have liked to see it resolved a bit sooner.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I definitely recommend to fans of romantic comedy. Looking forward to reading more from Amy Finnegan.

Release date: Oct. 7, 2014 (That’s TOMORROW, my friends!)

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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

First of all, this book has an adorable premise. As a writer, I love that Lara Jean copes with her emotions by writing brutally honest letters she never plans to send.

Lara Jean is quirky but endearing. She and her two sisters have a very strong relationship, in large part due to the loss of their mother. I thought this book was stronger because of the sibling dynamic, and because of the struggles the girls face as they grow up and come to terms with all the “inner demons” they’ve been ignoring in order to stay strong for one another. So it wasn’t all about the romance, as books like this sometimes are.

Two other aspects of this book I really appreciated: Lara Jean learns it isn’t right to judge others. This theme didn’t come across as preachy or blatantly obvious, but was rather subtle and realistic for a teenage girl who has both judged and been judged. Also, there is no insta-love. Lara Jean builds a solid friendship with her love interest FIRST, and that was definitely refreshing!

I’ve read several reviews of this book, and I’d have to agree with the readers who have pointed out that the book is more about Lara Jean’s fake relationship with Peter than it is about her letters. And that’s totally okay, but the description of the book is just a little misleading.

Overall, this book was incredibly funny and enjoyable. I recommend it. 🙂

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Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d heard good things about this book, and that’s why I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I didn’t even realize it was a retelling, and so I was super excited when I finally read the synopsis. This book did not disappoint.

Summary: The romance of Beauty and the Beast meets the adventure of Graceling in a dazzling fantasy novel about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny. Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday, when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom’s mountaintop, nothing is as she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. Nyx knows she must save her homeland at all costs, yet she can’t resist the pull of her sworn enemy—who’s gotten in her way by stealing her heart.

This book is a must-read. It’s a beautiful retelling / interpretation of Beauty and the Beast, a study of human nature and love, and about the realization that there’s evil in all of us. There are so many things to love about this novel. It’s creative, imaginative, and unique. Nyx is a heroine to root for from page 1, and although she harbors feelings of anger and bitterness toward her family, the reader sympathizes with her. This awful fate has been forced upon her, and she’s willing to accept it. She’s clever and real, but she meets her match in Ignifex, the man she’s been taught to believe is a monster.

The best thing about this book is there’s no insta-love. It takes a while for Nyx’s convictions and assumptions about her husband to unravel, and that’s what makes their romance believable and inspiring. The story world (Ignifex’s castle, for the most part) is incredible. And while the book is predominantly about the romance, there are elements of mystery and magic which give the book a fantastical and whimsical feel. Also, it isn’t predictable. And I always give points for that. 🙂

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The Big Wheel by Susan Larned Womble

This review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Big Wheel, first novel in the Wheel trilogy by Susan Larned Womble, is a YA coming of age story about human trafficking and equality.

Fifteen-year-old Paisley lives with her mother and sister on their dilapidated farm in Germany. They have been confined there for as long as Paisley can remember, after a virus swept across the world and everything went to chaos. Now, the ruthless mercenaries (mercs) have taken over and round up surviving humans to be traded and sold like animals. When Paisley’s mother and sister are taken and she is left behind, she must team up with Colt, a neighboring farm boy, and Riley, a teenage merc, to rescue them.

Paisley and Colt masquerade as brother and sister and are caught up in the politics of the post-virus world. The royal family and the mercs are in charge, but they might have hope in the American ambassador, the Queen’s husband who is still searching for a cure to the virus.

Paisley is feisty and spunky, but also rather immature at the beginning of the book. She’s been so sheltered all her life. But as the book progresses, I enjoyed watching her grow. She has a sweet relationship with her older sister Gretel, and also develops great friendships with Colt, Riley, and the “undesirables” she meets along the way. However, not many of the supporting characters are as well developed as Paisley. This could mean they’re given larger roles in the next books. Also, at times the themes of humanity and equality were a bit too explicit.

I’d definitely give this novel points for an unpredictable twist toward the end. The conflict is not entirely resolved when the book concludes, but the cliffhanger hints at escalating conflict in books 2 and 3, as Paisley and her friends fight to take back over the world from the corrupt King and his mercenaries.

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Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have so many good things to say about Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer. Goodreads does not allow half-star ratings, but this book deserves a 4.5.

Summary: Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren’t the most popular girls in school, they aren’t too worried. After all, real life will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. But when an unexpected event proves they’re missing out on the full high-school experience, it’s time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. The trio makes a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge and totally rock it.

Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she’ll have to get over her fear of public speaking—and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed; it could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes—until now. These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want—but that might mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for…

I thought this book would be about a smart girl with an identity crisis. You know the one – she realizes she has no social life, that being book smart isn’t everything, and so she goes in the opposite direction and plays “bad girl” only to realize she needs to stay true to herself. But despite my doubts about this book, I decided to give it a try anyway.

What I found was a believable, realistic narrator and a feel-good, original plotline about high school teenagers. To be completely honest, I didn’t find the book to be cliché at all. It’s about a tight-knit group of girls who realize what it means to mature. They push themselves to try new things and to challenge themselves in ways they hadn’t before, without abandoning their goals or values.

And even more surprising (and completely refreshing!), author Sarah Strohmeyer did not stereotype high school students. The “popular girls” aren’t catty or mean. The “jock” isn’t dumb. And everyone has a backstory – their behaviors are a result of their backgrounds / upbringing / values. Which is how it should be, is it not?

I didn’t even find the book to be predictable. (Major points for that!)

It was funny, and emotional, and moving. It completely captured the ups and downs of teenage relationships (friendships/romances) and high school life without painting it as unrealistically horrible.

Thank you, thank you Sarah Strohmeyer for Smart Girls Get What They Want. Finally, an every-day female protagonist to look up to!

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Arclight by Josin L. McQuein

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by the premise of Arclight by Josin L. McQuein, and was excited to read this YA horror story. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment for me. I’ll do my best to explain.

Summary: The Arclight is the last refuge in a post-apocalyptic world consumed by terrifying creatures called the Fade. No one crosses the wall of light that keeps the last human survivors safe. There’s nothing else left and nowhere to go. Or so they thought, until Marina, a lone teenage girl, stumbles out of the Dark.

Marina doesn’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. And the Fade want her back. When one of them infiltrates the compound and recognizes Marina, she begins to unlock secrets she didn’t even know she had. Marina knows she’s an outsider, but she’ll do anything to protect those who saved her. Whether they want her help or not.

The description leads you to believe it’s going to be an action-packed sci-fi horror story, but it really isn’t. In short, I thought the book was a bit vague and slow-moving. The Arclight, which protects the surviving citizens of the world from the Fade, sounded like an incredible story-world. However, the setting was difficult to picture and so I wasn’t very impressed.

I didn’t connect with the characters as I’d hoped to, and even the romance was a bit too sudden and predictable.

The big reveal of the novel wasn’t predictable, at least, so there’s that. However, it didn’t excite me or move me. I won’t be reading the sequel.

I really don’t relish writing reviews for books I disliked. I don’t believe in bashing authors, or forcing my opinions on others, but in this case I wanted to share my reasoning for giving the book 2 stars. (And honestly, I’d probably give it 2.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn’t allow half star ratings.)

And possibly I feel this way about Arclight because I’m not the greatest fan of sci-fi. That said, I don’t usually give genre a second thought when I fall for a book’s premise, and don’t believe my feelings for sci-fi are what ultimately led me to dislike the novel.

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Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown was an intriguing read about the world of magicians in 1920s New York.

Anna Van Housen is a talented illusionist who assists her mother, a medium, with her stage show and séances. Her life is far from normal, partly due to her mother’s claim that Anna is Harry Houdini’s illegitimate daughter.

But there’s another reason Anna could never be normal – while her mother is a con artist, Anna possesses true psychical powers. Ever since she was little, she could sense people’s emotions and foretell the future. When a mysterious boy comes to town, Anna begins experiencing visions like none she’s experienced before. She and her mother are in danger, and Anna wants to know why.

I really loved the setting of this novel. Anna totally belongs in Jazz Age New York, and Brown completely brought this world to life. Also, I’ve always been intrigued by magic and illusionists, and so I appreciated how Brown entwined Anna’s story with Houdini’s.

Much of the conflict came from Anna’s relationship with her mother, which was complicated. I appreciated this realistic mother-daughter relationship and thought it was well developed. The other characters were unique and interesting.

At times the book was a bit predictable, but overall, I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery, magic, and romance left me wanting more, and so I’ll definitely read the sequel.

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a new favorite. A YA fantasy about a female assassin? Yes, please.

Summary: In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

This was an action-packed, engrossing novel about a feisty teenage girl with nothing to lose. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to win her freedom, even if it means abiding by the king’s rules. The characters in this novel were extremely well-developed, their motivations clearly understood. I really enjoy reading multiple third-person perspectives, especially when it’s done well. (Maas does it oh so well.)

Glass castle? Jealous. Romance? Swoon. Promise of magic? Yes, yes, yes.

Loved the mystery and the intrigue. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong was a completely captivating novel. I’m always really intrigued by unique worlds, quests, and teens with gifts/powers. This book promised all three.

Moria and Ashyn are twin sisters, the Keeper and the Seeker of Edgewood. They must “quiet the enraged souls of the damned,” the souls of the criminals who have been exiled to the Forest of the Dead. This year, the Seeking ritual is interrupted by sinister events and Moria and Ashyn are separated. Journeying to find each other and to discover the cause of this evil, both girls must look within themselves to survive.

“Forest of the Dead”? That’s all it took to convince me I’d be a fan. The fantastical creatures the girls encounter in this wasteland absolutely terrified me. I turned pages like a fiend.

The story alternates between Moria and Ashyn’s perspectives. Both girls have a distinct voice and personality. They have a special relationship, and their loyalty and love for one another is so raw and pure. They’re accompanied in their exploits by “a dashing condemned thief” and a “stubborn imperial guard.” Two romances rather than just one was definitely a plus for me.

This novel also has elements of mystery. The ending of the novel was unpredictable, and completely caught me by surprise. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2.

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In the Shadows by Kiersten White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This e-galley was provided by Netgalley and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll be honest when I say I truly didn’t know what to expect with this book. But I am a fan of Kiersten White, so I thought I’d give it a shot. And I was very, very pleasantly surprised. This book transcends its YA genre, combining masterful prose and beautiful illustrations to tell the story of a battle against an ancient evil.

Cora and Minnie are sisters, and they assist their mother in running the local boardinghouse. Their lives are simple until a boy named Arthur shows up, who is fiercely protective of the sisters and may or may not be family. Thomas and Charles are brothers, and they’ve been “exiled” to the boarding house where their paths collide with Cora, Minnie, and Arthur. Strange things are happening. They’re in danger.

The written story alternates between five different perspectives, and the author manages to pull this off really well. The exploration of each of the narrators adds depth. It is beautifully written.

The story was whimsical, sinister, dark, strange, and intriguing. The reader must put together the clues alongside the characters, and so it is a difficult book to put down. It combines magic, mystery, romance, and adventure. However, I sometimes felt the conflict itself was a bit vague, and the reader doesn’t quite know what the antagonist is trying to achieve, and why.

I think it’s the illustrations that compensate for what is vague or unexplored in the text. At first, the illustrations don’t make much sense. The reader doesn’t understand the connection between the written story and the illustrations until much later in the book. The illustrations do not depict what is happening in the written sections of the novel, but tell their own story. While I thought this would annoy me, I realized it’s actually quite genius to let the reader figure it all out himself. It was so interesting to go back to the beginning and flip through the pictures after I’d finished the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and would definitely recommend it.

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