One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Summary: Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She’ll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she’s sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be a “”lady”” while the guys move on without her.

Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service.

But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends–the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she’s built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love.

I loved the premise of this novel, as it combined three of my favorite things: friendship, humor, romance.

Toni is a humorous and likable character. She and her three best guy friends have been inseparable ever since their sighting of a lake monster and their subsequent monster hunts. I really appreciated this realistic portrayal of friendship – often it’s one event that brings people together. But Toni feels she and the boys are growing apart, and so the book is largely about Toni’s attempt to save their friendship and her eventual realization that change is inevitable.

I really appreciated this underlying theme about maturity and embracing change, which is nicely accentuated by Toni’s coping with the death of her father and her relationship with her mom’s new husband. I loved Emma Elizabeth Swanson, the first female friend Toni makes at her new school. Emma is anything but stereotypical, and she teaches Toni that’s it’s okay to embrace her femininity without sacrificing her tomboyish nature. Their Rent-A-Gent service is totally original, and there are plenty of mishaps along the way.

My only complaint has to do with several inappropriate aspects of the novel I thought were unnecessary. Toni’s prank on her high school principal at the beginning of the book definitely showcases her immaturity, but it was also inappropriate and rude. Toni and her friends have an unconcerned attitude toward underage drinking. At one point Toni pole dances for her friends. I just didn’t appreciate this, and I don’t think younger readers would, either.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel even though it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Release date: Feb. 10, 2015 (That’s TOMORROW, my friends!)

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The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

OHMYWORD I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get my hands on this book. But I couldn’t be happier it’s my first read of 2015 – I think it’s a sign of an incredible reading year to come!

Summary: As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

I LOVE the premise of this book. The protagonist PURCHASES a slave in an auction and then falls for him? I’m sold. (No pun intended). And seriously, this book exceeded expectations.

Kestrel is witty and intelligent. In every scene, every action, every line of dialogue, Kestrel reminds the reader of her sharp personality and resourcefulness. She’s such a refreshing character. She’s a strategist, encouraged to join the military by her father, who she has this interestingly complicated relationship with. I think the best thing about this book is how every possible cliche and stereotype is completely thrown out the window.

The setting is so unique. The world-building is really well done, as there’s absolutely no info-dumping and instead everything the reader needs to know is woven into the story. There’s romance, but there’s no insta-love and plenty of clever banter and tension. Of course, it’s all tied directly to the plot, which is HOW IT SHOULD BE!

And the plot – completely unpredictable! The conflict is anything but black-and-white, and even at the end I struggled to make up my mind about which side to root for – the slaves who’s land and who’s homes were taken by Kestrel’s people, or Kestrel and the Valorians.

So I’m a little behind, but I am jumping on this bandwagon to encourage you to read this book now if you haven’t already. 🙂

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Have you read this book? Fangirl with me!