REVIEW: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Jen's Review

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 15, 2011

FINALLY. I READ SHATTER ME. Before this, I was definitely one of the few bloggers who hadn't read Shatter Me yet. Don't get me wrong, I'd been dying to read this book for forever, but just haven't gotten the time to pick up a non-review book. But thanks to Willa (Willa's Ramblings) and Vy (Vy's Blog), I finally caved and picked it up. However, since so many of y'all have read it and have seen so many reviews for this book, I thought I'd do something a wee bit different for this particular review.

For all you CRAZY people who haven't read Shatter Me yet, I'll be writing a brief, general review, so you know what I loved about this novel and why you should pick it up. But for all you people who have read Shatter Me, I'll be sharing with you guys a longer review.. With spoilers, so we can all fangirl together. *wiggles eyebrows* So if you don't want to be spoiled, just read the section that says "My Overall Thoughts". As for the Shatter Me alumni, feel free to read both! Enjoy!

My Overall Thoughts:

Shatter Me was a very addicting read, to say the least. It's everything that I wanted it to be, and more. I'd heard that Tahereh Mafi's writing style was different and that you either loved it or you hated it, but I didn't expect to fall in love with it. It's absolutely stunning, gorgeous, out-of-this-world different. I will read a biology textbook if she wrote one. Not kidding. And that's not the only thing I loved about Shatter Me.

I also fell in love with the characters and the growth between them. Juliette, our main protagonist, starts out as a very introverted-- even a bit crazy-- character from being isolated for so long. But as the story progresses, she really comes out of her shell and learns to work with others and become comfortable. I have to say that the main factor that I adored is of course, the romance. You people don't understand how tender, endearing, and heart-warming the romance is in Shatter Me. Just. No words. Lastly, the dystopian world and powers that were described in this book were really truly fascinating to learn about. I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about this post-apocalyptic world Mafi has created! In all, Shatter Me is definitely a new favorite for 2013, and it's book you NEED TO PICK UP. Like, yesterday.

The SPOILER REVIEW:

I think I covered my main points in "My Overall Thoughts", but let's get down to the real business. Please take note that this spoiler review is going to be more of… a gushy review. With lots of caps-lock.

adam. adam adam adam adam. This guy. CAN WE JUST. *breathes* When I first met this Adam character, I was like, "Well, he doesn't seem very different from the usual YA guys out there." Brown hair, endless blue eyes, tats... (tats!!!) Boy was I WRONG. Mafi was able to make his plain features sound like they're extraterrestrial and something totally different. Not only are his looks just drool-worthy, so is his personality. CAN I HAVE HIM? PLEASE? His care, gentleness, love for Juliette makes me want to go cry in a corner because of the fact that there seems to be no one this amazing in the real world (I WISH). And the fact that Adam and Juliette have known each other since elementary school just proved that they have history together, and a special one at that. *sighs* I need more Adam, ASAP.

OMG OMG. And I just have to talk about the most mind-blowing moment in Shatter Me. When Warner. Freaking. Touches Juliette. Without dying. I PRETTY MUCH PULLED OUT ALL OF MY HURR. Like, oh my goodness, but sh*t just got reaaaaal. I could tell from then on that the rest of the story was going to be VERY fast-paced and intense. I was right. (oh and by the way, I HATE WARNER. I'm so so curious how it's all going to change in Unravel Me…)

The last half is full of running, blood, hiding, and all of the heart-racing scenes you could ask for. But I also LOVE the new characters that are introduced. James (<3), Kenji (whom I hated at first, like, get your own girl!), Winston, Castle, and the staff at Omega Point. I cannot wait to get to know these characters more in the sequel!

Okay. I think I'm done. There you have it, my fangirly thoughts for Shatter Me. Tahereh Mafi = one of my new favoritest authors ever. EVER. *bows down*

5 teacups for Shatter Me! 

Blog Tour: Chantress Review + Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I'm so excited to be a part of the Chantress Blog Tour, hosted by Shane at Itching For Books. I'm going to be sharing my review and a giveaway! Thank you Shane for allowing me to be a part of this tour. Check out the rest of the tour here!

Jen's Review

Chantress
by Amy Butler Greenfield
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: May 7, 2013

Ever since I laid eyes on the cover for Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield, I knew I had to read it. Without a doubt. But this cover isn't just pretty on the outside. Between the flaps of this gorgeous book is a magical tale with beautiful prose, a creative plot line, and endearing characters that I loved from the start. Chantress is a historical fantasty that you won't want to miss.

First off, I'd like to mention the concept of this book that's intriguing and definitely something that's not typical out there in the YA fantasy world. Chantresses, the fantasy element in this book, are kind of like witches/fairies, but not at all in any way at the same time. Greenfield spices things up by adding little sprinkles of her own imagination and creativity here and there. I really enjoy how she introduces the topic mildly and not in any confusing way. Thankfully there's no info-dump, which is the worst. Greenfield skillfully weaves in Chantress information in a sneaky way that helps the reader learn about the idea along with the main character Lucy, since she starts out in the beginning of the story not knowing that she is a Chantress. What's more, Chantress is set in a historical time period (mid 1600s, which is what I'm studying in History class!), and it's surprisingly interesting to read about (usually I'm like, "History? SNOOORE). Set in London, I think that Greenfield was able to capture the dialogue of the time fabulously. The tone of the era was executed well, and I couldn't have asked for better.

Probably one of my favorite aspects of all in this novel is the characters. Lucy, the young woman who learns that she is Chantress, is easily lovable, as well as a hard-working character. There's something about her curiosity to learn more and to try her very best to use magic appropriately that is just admirable. In the middle of the book, it's evident that she works persistently to use magic, since her mentor scolds her endlessly, and she never gives up. Additionally, Nat is also a character I learned to fall in love with. Starting off as a cold, rude character, his heart opens up for Lucy and their very subtle romance is heart warming. I have no complaints for any of the characters in Chantress. They are all simply amazing and realistic.

Finally, the plot line is very well paced in this novel. It starts off with a bang (not literally), and I knew from the start that I was going to love this book. Chantress held my attention until the very end, and even then I didn't want to let go of this world and characters that Greenfield has created for us. It's not always fast-paced, but it's just enough to keep the readers engaged and interested in the story. It also helps that Greefield's writing is lush and flowy.

Chantress is definitely a book that every reader needs to pick up. I'm not a big historical or fantasy YA fan, but look who loved it? I DID. That's right, this book has it all: an enchanting concept that stands out, extremely delightful characters, and an absorbing plot. Go pick this up, you won't regret it!

4.5 teacups for Chantress!

*Thank you Amy, the publisher, and Edelweiss for providing me with a review copy!*

Book Trailer

Giveaway!

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Happy reading,
Jen xx

Showcase Sunday #18

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received for the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books to other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

Jen's Reviews

This month is going to be crazy for me! Exams are on their way, and yet, my TBR pile keeps growing... Here's what I got this week! I definitely have enough books to last me the entire summer.. EEP. Can't wait. :)

For Review:

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Atria Books, Egmont USA, Netgalley, and Edeweiss! <3

Library: (I'm going to be returning some of these unread, just watch)

WHEWWWEE. Library books are actually the worst though because you're not spending any money at all so you just GRAB ALL OF THEM. It's a problem... What book should I read first?

Happy reading, 

Jen xx

REVIEW: Bruised by Sarah Skilton

Jen's Review

Bruised
by Sarah Skilton
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Release Date: March 5th, 2013

When I first found out about Bruised by Sarah Skilton, it didn't catch my attention very much, at all. It was only when I saw rave reviews for this book by some of my most trusted blogger friends (ehem, Keertana and Maja) that I knew I had to read it. And thank goodness for their accurate opinions on this book, because after finishing Bruised, I've come to the conclusion that this book is a new favorite for 2013. Honestly, if you look at my status updates on Goodreads for this book, pretty much every single one says, "I love this book. SO MUCH." Because in all seriousness, Bruised is a traumatizing story about a girl who witnesses the shooting of a gunman-- and blames it on herself for not preventing it. A gritty yet heartwarming contemporary, Bruised hit me in all the right places.

Firstly, I just need to mention that this book reminded me a lot of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Why? It's similar in the ways of a girl who endures a traumatizing experience in which she needs to go through the healing process by forcing herself to remember. But there is that difference between these two books; what made me love Bruised so much more was the addition of Tae Kwan Do. It makes it infinitely more fascinating to read about. Not only does our main character Imogen struggle to recover from the witness of the shooting, she also comes to terms with her Tae Kwan Do training, and it plays a huge part in the story. First of all, I've never read a book that's remotely related to martial arts, and second, Skilton makes it sound freaking bad-ass. This unique sport that's been weaved into the story kept me on my toes for sure.

Another quality of this book that I fell in love with was Imogen, and the strong character development. Imogen's voice is darkly humorous and sarcastic-- and she's not very likable at first. But it's the little things that go through her mind that I learned to love and empathize with. Her bravery, courage, and her acceptance towards other people is just amazing. She grows as a character, too, and it's like watching a new door open, ready for possibilities. Aside from Imogen herself though, we have Imogen's family, who play a huge role in the story. Hunter, the man-whore of a brother was hilarious, but also deeply caring. The way that Imogen's issues affect Hunter and his reactions are completely realistic. Imogen's family and Imogen herself are endearing characters that I learned to admire by the end of the book.

And of course, there's the romance. Oh goodness. Can we just take a moment to applaud Skilton's skills to write a completely.. Beautifully violent romance? Ricky Alvarez, the love interest, happens to also be an eye-witness of the shooting that Imogen was at, and their bonding over the experience is intense and intricate at the same time. And by violent romance, I mean that Imogen constantly wants to fight someone because of the event she had to witness (this will make more sense once you read it, I promise!), and it's really memorable, to say the least. But Ricky's understanding nature and tender feelings were just. I can't-- I FELT ALL THE FEELS. That is all.

My final message to you all: pick up this book. I'M BEGGING YOU. Bruised is without a doubt, a page-turner with strands of emotion, love, growth, and acceptance braided throughout the pages. I couldn't have asked for a better-written debut from Sarah Skilton, and I am glad to say that this surprising story that touched my heart will surely touch yours as well.

5 teacups for Bruised!

Blog Tour: The Last Academy Excerpt and Giveaway!

Hey y'all! Today I have a blurb, excerpt, and giveaway to share with you all, as I am part of The Last Academy blog tour hosted by Shane at Itching for Books! Thanks for letting me be a part of this tour. To see the full tour schedule, click here.

Blurb

The Last Academy
by Anne Applegate
Publisher: Point
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Synopsis via Goodreads:

Curtis Sittenfeld's PREP meets THE SIXTH SENSE in this spine-tingling, unforgettable debut.
Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

Amazon -  Author Website - Twitter

Excerpt

*This excerpt was taken from an uncorrected proof*

When I'd been in fourth grade, my parents didn't get along so great. That year, I biked the five miles from my house to Lia's practically every day. The stuff with my folks eventually evened out, but ever since, I'd more or less been adopted by Lia's family.

I grabbed the knife and went out to set it on the table. "Go put on your suit." Lia elbowed me, frowning at my lavender skirt and white T-shirt. The basketball guys had just dropped in -- about eight of them, all wearing cutoffs. Lia's other friends, Brooke and Grace, were decked out in jeans and tank tops. Lia was the only one in a swimsuit. A brand-new cherry-red bikini, and it showed off her tan perfectly.

I went over to the lawn chairs, grabbed my bag, and made an act of riffling through it. I knew what I'd find.

"I can't believe I forgot to bring it," I had to tell her a minute later. By then Lia was asking Hank from basketball which of the four city high schools he'd go to next year. The question sent a zing of excited nervousness through me. High school! Lia rolled an unbelieving eye at me. I tried not to act guilty. I hadn't forgotten my swimsuit. It was right where I'd left it. At home. The thing was, lately I'd been… well, developing like a Polaroid picture. When I'd tried my suit on that afternoon, it didn't fit. My plan had been to wallflower it up by the onion dip while Lia flirted with Kevin, who hadn't arrived yet.

"Cam… den," Lia whined. She adjusted her bikini and heaved a sigh. "My yellow swimsuit's in the dresser. Go put that on."

I knew the yellow suit. One-piece, old, and ugly. Lia wore it for swim meets last year.

"I'm fine," I said.

"Please," she whispered, smiling nervously as Brooke and Grace walked over. "I'm the only one in a suit. Super please?"

Lia made puppy eyes at me that were impossible to resist. So I nodded, and she hugged me, and I trudged into the house. The sliding glass door closed on Lia's laughter as the basketball guys threatened to throw each other into the pool.

When I finally found the yellow swimsuit, stuffed in the back of Lia's bedroom dresser, it was uglier than I remembered. It was even worse on, making me look like a weird fried egg, my thighs the color of the white. I spend a few minutes telling myself how nervous Lia was, waiting for her crush to show up, standing around practically naked, by herself. It wouldn't hurt me to look a little ugly for one stupid party. Then I told myself Lia would totally owe me.

On my way out, I stepped on a bag from Girl from Ipanema swimwear shop. When it crinkled under my foot, I could tell there was something there. Slowly, I pulled it out. It was a bikini, in a bunch of different shades of green. Lia must have bought two and decided last-minute on the red. That was so completely like her. Probably, with all the craziness of getting the party together, she'd forgotten to mention it.

I held it up in the mirror. Thing was scandalous pretty. I tried it on.

I actually look good, I thought, shocked as I twisted and turned in front of the mirror. Unlike my swimsuit at home, this fit me perfectly. I mean, I didn't even look like myself. And since my other option was fried egg…

I walked back to the party. At the sliding glass door, I had to do a little happy dance for my BFF-- Kevin had arrived. He stood with Lia, right next to the Jacuzzi. He slouched as she talked, his hands in his jeans pockets, tossing his head every few minutes to get his glossy brown hair out of his eyes.

The underwater lights for the pool were on, and the sky was twilight. Hank peeled off his shirt, cannon-balled into the water, and came back up, laughing. One of his buddies dove in after, and Grace laughed. Out of nowhere, Hank caught my eye and smiled at me. Completely giddy, I sort of pranced down the path toward Lia.

"Whaddaya think?" I asked, pointing at the suit and laughing. I though Lia'd laugh, too. Instead, Kevin let out a low whistle.

"Whoa there. Niiiii-ce," he said, checking me out. I blushed, embarrassed by his tone. I didn't know what Lia saw in him. "You are smoking hot." He grabbed my hand and spun me like we were dancing. I heard myself giggle, but I could see Lia's face going red. I was messing up her plan. Worse, I was hurting her somehow. I pulled my hand away.

"That's not the yellow suit," she said. "It's my brand new one."

Brooke came over. "Isn't that Lia's new suit?" she asked, which made me mad, because Brooke was just saying it because Lia had said it. My best friend flashed the fakest smile I'd ever seen. It hit me like a ton of bricks: She hadn't forgotten about the green bikini at all. She'd wanted me to look ugly.

- Loc 24

Giveaway!

Enter to win a finished copy of The Last Academy! :) 

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Happy reading,

Jen xx

Let's Talk About... Reading & Finishing Series

So with all of the new wave of books coming out that are the end to trilogies/series, it's really got me thinking: I suck at completing series. Seriously, I can probably list off a handful (less than ten?) of series that I've actually completed. No joke. And I've compiled a list of reasons as to why I never get to finish series, because I really truly want to. I sometimes get the tugging in the back of my brain, and it's nagging me, constantly whispering, "Don't you want to know what happens to _____ in the end?" I always read the first book in the series… and then I never read the rest. And it's not like the first book is so horrible that I don't want to know what happens after--because frankly, there are a lot of books where I want to know what happens next. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on why I don't finish reading series.

It seems like it's mostly the debuts, but I love starting a new series. There's the sense of a fresh, new start and meeting new characters that is just fascinating. And I usually end up enjoying the first installment. So reason number is… I have to wait too long for the sequel. This seems to be a common issue among all readers. WE NEED THE NEXT BOOK, NOW. Whether it be left on a cliffhanger or not, we like to know what happens next! Maybe I'm just impatient, but I'm curious. And it's not even just that I'm curious, I also start forgetting what happened and all of the little details. Most of the time, what happens for me is that when a sequel comes out, I get really pumped to read it. But then… I get a little wary of picking the book up again because I'm like, "Wait, what was the main character's name again..? AWK." And then I'm thinking, hmm, I'll just put it off. Because honestly, I have a hard time enjoying books when I have no idea who so-and-so is, or what a dadada is. AND THEN I NEVER GET TO FINISH THE SERIES.

And oh, I've tried to remedy this. My thoughts consist of: I'll re-read the first book in the series, and it will jog my memory. The problem is, who has time for re-reads anymore? There's always review books and the books that's hot at the moment, there just isn't time to read a book that you've already read! So of course, this detracts my need to read a sequel that I've seriously been anticipating. I honestly don't remember when I re-read a book (besides Harry Potter). I've thought about series long and hard for awhile now. Should I not start series until they are completely done? But then I have to wait for SUCH a long time for all three to be out, and by then, ERRRbody's already read them and I'll be so behind. And plus, there's always that situation where I read a full series and there's that ONE AUTHOR who decides to add more books to the supposed-to-be-done series. Dilemmas, dilemmas.

Of course, I've still been reading the first books in series because I want to. Recently, after I finish  reading a book and I write the review, I write a summary and a bullet point list of spoilers for myself. It sounds COMPLETELY dorky, but it really helps me rethink the entire book through, and maybe next time when the sequel for a particular book comes out, I can refer to my notes that I took after immediately completing book one.

I guess my main issue with not completing series is that I forget what happened in the previous books, and then I'm too lazy to jog my memory. But tell me:

Do you tend to finish series? Do you read them immediately after the release date, or do you read them all at once, once they're all published? Do you have any strategies to help remember what happened in the previous books? Or do you just go into the sequel, hoping that it will jog your memory immediately? Should I wait patiently for entire series to come out to read them? Talk to me, people! <3

In case you're curious, here are just some of the series/sequels that I haven't finished (a.k.a, your chance to slap me silly for not finishing these)

• The Chemical Garden Trilogy (Fever, Sever)
• Angel Trilogy (Angel Burn)
• Hex Hall Trilogy (Spellbound)
• Revenants Trilogy (Until I Die)
• Across the Universe Trilogy (A Million Suns, Shades of Earth
• Unearthly Trilogy (Hallowed, Boundless)
• Divergent Trilogy (INSURGENT….)
• Angelfire Trilogy (Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence)
• Hush, Hush Saga (Finale)
• Mara Dyer Trilogy (The Evolution of Mara Dyer)

(You get the idea. *hides in corner*)

Happy discussing (and reading series!),

Jen xx

REVIEW: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Name: Meant to Be

Author: Lauren Morrill

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: November 13, 2012 (US)

Pages: 304, Hardcover

Source: Online Library

Rating: 5 Teacups

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 
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.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

I was first attracted to this book because of it's gorgeous cover. But what's between the exterior shell is even more beautiful. Inside these pages contains a delightful story about a girl finding her MTB (meant to be) in London with a not-so-perfect immature boy. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill fortunately reminds me of Anna and the French Kiss, which, if you know me, you know that it's my favorite contemporary romance ever. Meant to Be isn't far behind and I will definitely recommend this to anyone who also loves Anna.

One of the many things I love about Meant to Be is the main character Julia, as well as her school trip buddy, Jason. Julia is a smart, nerdy, hilarious girl that I was laughing out loud with from page one. Her personality resonates off the pages and she is easily lovable. Her voice is snarky and clever, and I couldn't get enough of it, it seems. Jason is really quite similar to Julia; he also has that same smart-ass personality that I love. He's also aggravating, but in a good way. The way he and Julia banter back in forth is comical and entertaining to read about. While the characters in Meant to Be are absolutely amusing and witty, they aren't the only thing that I adore in the story.

The setting and plot in Meant to Be also have to be the major contributing factors for my undying love for this book! The story is set in London, which is a place I absolutely love reading about, causing my enjoyment levels to rise exponentially. Every day of their field trip is adventurous and exciting. All of the different scenarios in London pretty much just makes me jealous of their wonderful experiences, which is a good thing. And the plot! The plot is very well crafted and that twist in the end! It's quite obvious who Julia is going to end up with from the start, but there's still that twist that I totally was not expecting.

To conclude, I sincerely adore Meant to Be because of it's witty characters, excellent choice in setting, exciting plot, and overall cuteness factor. The entire feeling of happiness is sure to engulf the reader after they have turned the last page. I couldn't have asked for a better debut novel from Lauren Morrill, and will surely be reading her future works. Highly recommended, this one!

5 Teacups for Meant to Be!