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!

Blog Tour: Faster We Burn Excerpt!

Hey everyone! I'm happy to be taking part in the Deeper We Fall blog tour, hosted by Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours. I have an excerpt to share with you all. To see the full schedule, click here!

About Deeper We Fall 

Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron(Deeper We Fall #1)

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publication date: January 24th 2013

Synopsis:

Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart. Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again. Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face. Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen. The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache.

Amazon - Barnes and Noble 

About Faster We Burn

Faster We Burn by Chelsea M. Cameron(Deeper We Fall #2)

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publication date: April 20th, 2013 

Synopsis: 

The last thing Katie Hallman needs is another guy in her life, but Stryker Grant is there anyway. What starts out as just an escape from her previous relationship disaster soon turns into something more. Stryker gets under her skin the way no one has before, and soon she realizes she can't shake him, even if she wanted to. But is Katie ready to trust her already-battered heart to the guy who could shatter it into a million pieces?

Amazon - Barnes and Noble 

Excerpt

 This excerpt is from Faster We Burn.

I couldn’t find a good radio station, so I picked up my phone and put it on speaker, setting it in a little clip on my dashboard. I should have one of those headsets, but I thought they made people look like assholes, so I’d never gotten one.

He picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, I’m driving back and I just thought I would check in with my friend. How are you, friend?”

He sounded like he was in a room full of people.

“I’m good, friend. How are you?” The voices faded, as if he was walking away from them.

“You’re not in class, are you?”

“No, I was just getting something to eat.”

“When’s your next class?”

“Not for a while. I’m all yours, friend.”

“Well that is good to hear, friend.”

He went on to tell me about all the things that I’d missed on campus, from someone getting thrown out for setting a couch on fire, to the frat that was on probation, to the professor who’d gotten caught smoking pot on campus with a few students.

It was all silly and mundane and distracting enough that I could get out of my own head for a few minutes. It was a blessed relief.

He also filled me in on the crew. Lottie was dying to have me back and had stocked up on ice cream in preparation for lots of Law and Order marathons.

Trish had almost gotten fired from her job for mouthing off to her boss, Will and Audrey had finally kissed in public and Simon was trying to convince everyone to participate in some sort of charity event that involved running around campus in your underwear.

“I’m not freezing my junk off, even if it is for charity,” he said as I pictured his junk. It was pretty nice junk, and I wouldn’t like it if anything happened to it, even if I wasn’t going to be using it anytime soon.

It was all well and good to call ourselves friends over the phone, but in person, I had no idea how it was going to go.

“How’s your mom?”

“I guess she’s as good as can be expected. She goes from sobbing to cleaning like the Queen is coming over, then back to sobbing. I’m going back this weekend so Kayla can have a break.”

“Do you feel guilty?” Stryker always had a way of asking the questions I didn’t want to answer.

“Yeah. How can I not?”

I waited for him to tell me that I shouldn’t, but he sighed.

“You’re right.”

“Wait, what was that?”

He laughed.

“I said that you’re right. A little guilt is okay. It’s the big, soul-crushing guilt I’m worried about.”

Happy reading, everyone!

Jen xx

Showcase Sunday #17

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!

So... I went a little crazy these past two weeks. I'm not even going to attempt to make an excuse why I got so many. I just need to accept the fact that I'm a book addict. Simple as that.

Jen's Books
(all covers link to Goodreads)

Borrowed:

Bought:

 
 

For Review:

WHAT A HAUL. 29 books. Now... which one should I read first?!? And, what did you get this week? :)

Happy reading,

Jen xx

REVIEW: Wait For You by J. Lynn

Jen's Review

Wait For You
by J. Lynn
February 26, 2013
Self-Published
332 pages, Kindle Edition

You all know that New Adult is a genre that I tend to get immersed in. It's addicting, it usually involves a hot guy, and some type of issue that the girl went through in the past. Wait For You isn't far off from that; however, the story is able to deem itself as memorable and beautiful. For fans of New Adult, Wait For You is a must.

There are definitely a few flaws that I need to point out before I praise this novel. First: there are so many conventional errors and typos! Now, this doesn't detract my enjoyment for this novel, but it's one of those things that are just annoyances. The other quality that irked me is the plot pacing. The problem isn't resolved until the very end of the story. Now, I like how the story was stretched in the middle section because it proves to be a strong character development area, but things are settled too quickly in the end. It would have been perfect if the book was longer or something.

Other than that, Wait For You is a spectacular novel with very endearing and relate-able characters, which is what stood out for me the most. Avery, the scarred, shut-out character, starts out to be a timid character, but also proves to be a bit snarky. Her voice is like-able, instantly from page one. As of her growth in character, it was slow, but sure. I felt at times that she should've been stronger and braver, but by the end, she showed the readers just that. 

The real star in this novel is Cam Hamilton. Yes, he's the love interest. Yes, he's a hottie. But his amazingness doesn't end there. He proves to be compassionate, loving, and most importantly, patient. His patience that he gives to Avery is unbelievable, even after her confession, and the amount of time that took her to trust him. His brutal honesty, persistence, and sassy characteristic were also traits that I love about him. All of this wraps up to a nice bundle of boy perfection. His darn good looks are a plus, of course. ;)

To conclude, Wait For You is a novel that is heart-melting with the love the reader feels between the characters. Although this novel had a few minor errors here in there, Wait For You is still an above-average New Adult story that I can't help but fall in love with.

4 teacups for Wait For You!

Waiting on Wednesday #13

Waiting on Wednesday is a fabulous meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  It's a wonderful chance to share the books we're eagerly anticipating and to find out what our fellow bloggers are looking forward to reading!

Wow. It's been a long time since we've done a WoW on A Reading Daydreamer! The last time we posted one was in December. O.O But anyway, it's just me, Jen, today, since Beverley's still taking her hiatus. 

Jen's eagerly anticipating...

Twinmaker

by Sean Williams

HarperTeen

November 5, 2013
Summary from Goodreads:

High-stakes action combines with issues of friendship and body image in this timely and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of technology and identity.
You can be Improved....
In a near-future world in which technology can transport you anywhere instantly, can a coded note enable you to change your body-to become taller, stronger, more beautiful? Clair is pretty sure the offer is too good to be true. But her best friend, Libby, is determined to give it a try, longing for a new, improved version of herself.
What starts as Libby's dream turns into Clair's nightmare when Libby falls foul of a deadly trap. With the help of Jesse, the school freak, and a mysterious-but powerful-stranger called Q, Clair's attempt to protect Libby leads her to an unimagined world of conspiracies and cover-ups. Soon her own life is at risk, and Clair is chased across the world in a desperate race against time.
Action and danger fuel Sean Williams's tale of technology, identity, and the lengths to which one girl will go to save her best friend.

Why I'm interested in reading this novel:
- First, TWINS. Well, not really.. it's more like cloning, but I'M A TWIN. That catches my attention immediately.
- This sounds like an awesome action-packed read!
- Does it count that it publishes during my birthday month?

What book(s) are you waiting on this lovely Wednesday? Let me know! :)

Happy reading, 

Jen xx 

REVIEW: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Jen's Review

Where She Went
by Gayle Forman
Dutton Juvenile (HC) // Speak (PB)
April 5, 2011

Gah.

Arghh.

Meerrghhbleh.

[my incoherent thoughts]

I don't think any book has evoked so much emotion out of me before. If I Stay, the predecessor to this (wonderful, beautiful) book, wasn't even close to how amazing this one was. I liked If I Stay, and after finishing that one, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to know what happened afterwards. I thought the ending to that was satisfying and heartbreakingly stunning already, but so many of you guys MADE me read Where She Went. So of course, I had to see what all of the fuss was about.

And I need to say, I LOVE YOU GUYS FOR PUSHING THIS BOOK ON ME. I couldn't have been happier. Where She Went is phenomenal, tender, so, so tender, and I'm actually mind-blown that I managed not to cry. I know so many other people who have read this book time and time again, and I'm happy to say that I'll be joining into that circle of Gayle Forman fans. Everything was just spot on perfect in this book--from the male POV, the storytelling, to the downright lyrics from Adam's band. Everything.

I was definitely a little hesitant to read from Adam's point of view, because I understood Mia's character so well in If I Stay, that I didn't think it was possible for a better narration. But of course, I was wrong. Adam's voice is fresh, scarred, honest, and wistful, if anything. His hope and undying love for Mia was so breathtakingly gorgeous, it HURTS MY HEART, still. I don't even have words to express Adam's thoughts. It's like, the reader gets so involved and you just know the character so well afterwards. Brava, Forman, for writing through a 21 year-old man's point of view, perfectly.

We all know that Forman's writing was influential and moving in If I Stay, but Forman takes it to a whole 'nother level in Where She Went. Where She Went had definitely a different quality to it; it was undoubtedly still recognizable as Forman's, but it was much more dream-like and metaphorical, which I adored like no other. Gayle Forman's storytelling is truly special and one of a kind.

I also think that it's a rarity that I enjoyed this book so much, since it's kind of about music. Usually, books that rant on about music and bands and famous music people bore me. To death. Needless to say, the music aspect actually harmonized the story extremely well, and the lyrics at the beginning of every other chapter certainly addedto the story. Seriously, Forman should be a songwriter too, hehe.

So if you were hesitant like me, and can't decide whether or not to pick up Where She Went (or, if you're crazy, hesitant to pick up If I Stay), don't be. Just pick it up, and READ THEM. You won't regret it, like seriously. I can honestly say that I'll be rereading Where She Went again, soon, just to feel those achingly raw and delicate feelings that Forman was able to bring out of me. Where She Went turned out to be one of the best sequels I have ever read, and, surprise-surprise, Forman is now an author I can refer to as a favorite.

5 teacups for Where She Went!

REVIEW: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Jen's Review

Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
Henry Holt and Co. (HC)
June 5, 2012

WOAH GUYS.

I totally did not expect to like this book so much! High fantasy is usually way out of my comfort zone, as I don't read much of it. However, I had high hopes for this one because a) I loved Throne of Glass, and that was high fantasy, and b) there is not enough rave reviews for this book out there, it seems! Literally, every review of this book is 4 stars or higher, and pretty much all of my trusted blogger buddies all LOVE this book to death. I'm so happy to say that I am far from disappointed! Shadow and Bone is a high-paced, magical fantasy with crazy in-depth characters, fantastic creativity, and action-packed plot.

I was so worried in the beginning of this book, solely because the overload with the names, cities, and types of clothing they wore in the Grisha world. And they're not ordinary names, either. They're names like kefta and Os Kervo and oprichniki. You can imagine my panic. I absolutely hate, hate, HATE getting confused during a book, because then I usually end up flipping back and forth to un-confuse myself by referring to previous pages. While I was puzzled for a little while, Bardugo was able to refer to the names frequently, and before I knew it, I was immersed in the world without anymore confusion. This was the only minor problem I had with the book, fortunately.

One of the many things I loved about Shadow and Bone was the dark and beautifully magical world that Bardugo has created. It's so memorable and different, and, like Veronica Roth says, it's "Unlike anything I've ever read". The world of the Fold and the kingdom with the oh so mysterious Darkling ruling over the Grishas and with the different ranks and powers of the Grishas was just FASCINATING. Trust me, this is NOT a world you'll want to miss out on.

Of course, I have to mention my love for the characters! Alina Starkov is the protagonist and I loved her from the start. I'm still not sure what drew me to her in the beginning, but I think it's the fact that she never really knew her background of where she came from that drew my curiosity towards her. Later on, I learned that she is incredibly smart: she learns from her mistakes and is able to rationalize the best solutions. I also have to mention the other characters, duh. [OKAY. WAIT. So I totally thought there was going to be a love triangle in this book, and then I kept reading and AHH I was a tad disappointed, but SURPRISED by the twisty and turnies.] All right, so the Darkling. I don't know what made me like him so much, but he is dark, powerful, and I was drawn to him like Alina was. In fact, he's kind of smexy. Yeah. But then, we have MAL. I kept picturing him as Josh Hutcherson/Peeta in my head for some reason. Mal is kind of like him though, in a way: mellow, friendly, protective… He was just adorable. And let's not forget about Alina's servant (ish), Genya! She was so girly and fun and she really lightened up this book a bit. The characters in Shadow and Bone were absolutely sensational and definitely memorable.

Like I mentioned above in the brackets, there are twisty and turnies. The plot pacing was simply fantastic! It moved at a steady-pace in the beginning of the novel as characters and the world of the Grisha are introduced, but I think the middle section of the book was my favorite. The story got exciting as Alina moves to new, unfamiliar territory (things even got a little... steamy). The last section of the novel was kind of back to it's steady pace, but there was a lot of information that the author surprises the reader with and the not-so-fast-pace was made up for.

So what I thought was going to be a composed, calm review, kind of turned out to be a spazzy, excited, gushy review for Shadow and Bone. I guess I'm just trying to tell everyone that they need to read this book if they haven't already! I can't believe I have to wait 6 months until I can read the next installment, Siege and Storm. Shadow and Bone will take readers on a wild, vivid, engrossingly enigmatic ride with Leigh Bardugo's innovative world of the Grisha.

4.5 teacups for Shadow and Bone!

REVIEW: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

Name: So Much Closer

Author: Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Viking Juvenile/Speak (US)

Release Date: April 12, 2011

Pages: 236, Paperback

Source: Online Library

Rating: 3.5 Teacups

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

I'm not even going to beat around the bush, I'll just be upfront about it: I have no idea why I picked this one up in the first place. I had heard of Colasanti's books previously, but not necessarily very good things. I never really had any compulsion to pick up one of her books. Nonetheless, here I am, letting you know my thoughts on it. Luckily, I was totally in the contemporary, cute & fluffy mood when I picked this one up, and I ended up really enjoying it. So Much Closer was super fun and light, but had it's problems, for sure.

Right after I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read the book. I mean, the plot sounds so entirely weird and creepy--a girl moves to New York just for a boy that doesn't even know she exists? Doesn't that sound like a downright stalker to you? It had that effect on me and I kind of wanted to know what would happen for these characters. Brooke, the (stalker) girl, did start out as an obsessive, crazy girl that was blinded by her love for Scott. However, she was not this shallow girl the entire time. Her time in New York and her making of new friends helped change the naïve person she was before into a more thoughtful person. I'm glad with the choices she made in the end.

Other than the fact that the character growth was enjoyable, some of the side characters were very under-developed, or simply didn't make any sense. For example, when Brooke moves to New York, she moves in with her dad. Her father was so uninvolved with Brooke's life that it was a little ridiculous. It was a  bit unrealistic in my taste. Another character that was mind-boggling was Scott, the boy that Brooke was obsessed with in the beginning. Scott was portrayed as such a perfect boy, but I never grew to understand him, or like him for that matter. Scott was kind of impulsive, dumb, even. These two male characters really brought it down a notch for me in So Much Closer.

Aside from my love-hate relationship with the characters, So Much Closer definitely had an entertaining plot. I found myself wanting to read more and learn what happens with Brooke's relationships and how she finds her future in New York. It was really quite addicting to read about, in truth.

So Much Closer turned out to be a successful read for me. Even while some of the characters bothered me to no end, Brooke's character growth and entertaining plot line really helped me enjoy the novel much more than I expected prior to reading the book. I will definitely be picking up more of  Colasanti's work. Consider me a fan!

3.5 Teacups for So Much Closer!

REVIEW: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Jen's Review

Wake
by Amanda Hocking
August 7, 2012
St. Martin's Griffin (HC) // Tor (PB)

Having heard nothing but fabulous things about Amanda Hocking, I decided to finally pick up one of her novels on a whim. Fortunately, Wake was a superb choice; I loved almost everything about this book! The characters were all unique and special in some way, the plot was intriguing and mysterious, and the sirens were done very well. I couldn't have asked for a better novel from Hocking!

I'm not the biggest fan of 3rd-person character stories, but the way it was done in Wake was necessary, and adequate. Since there were so many characters, it would have gotten confusing if it was told in 1st-person. Speaking of characters, every character was enjoyable in some way. Gemma, the main--MAIN--character in the novel, was driven, and motivated. She was a strong character, but hid a lot of things from her friends and family. Her sister, Harper was a whole different story. Harper was very protective of Gemma, but it never annoyed me. I loved how much she cared for Gemma. And then there are the love interests, Alex and Daniel (NOT a love triangle. Alex is with Gemma, Daniel is with Harper). Thank you Amanda Hocking for not writing cliché guys! Alex was totally geeky and swoon-worthy at the same time, I loved him! Even though Daniel wasn't as big of a character in Wake, he was probably one of my favorites, no doubt! His ability to accept and empathize with Harper was so beautiful and sweet. All of the characters in Wake were very well done.

Now, the other characters, the sirens--Penn, Thea, and Lexi-- were awesome sirens. When readers first hear "siren", they think "mermaid". Well, after reading Wake, you won't be thinking "happy-go-lucky-pretty-mermaids" anymore. The sirens in Wake were gruesome and disgusting, mean and manipulative. They created a tense atmosphere and kept the story exciting!

Finally, the plot that Hocking wrote up for the readers was thoroughly engaging and intense! There was definitely a murder mystery going on, and while it was predictable, there was some fabulous dramatic irony happening simultaneously. There were plenty of twists and turns around each new chapter and it really kept me wanting more. The storyline was simply excellent!

Overall, I highly enjoyed Wake. Wake will entrance the reader just like the sirens do to the mortals. Wake was captivating with it's outstanding case of characters, well-done sirens, and exciting plotline. Wake will not disappoint!

Audiobook Review: The audio for this one was really really great. I certainly recommend it! The narrator has a beautiful voice, as well as a gorgeous singing voice, too! Yes, the narrator sings for us! Highly recommended.

4.5 teacups for Wake!

Showcase Sunday #16

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!

If you read the post from earlier this week (click here to read it), you all know that Beverley is on a hiatus until June! *sobs* She will be greatly missed until then! I'm getting a little busier myself, but luckily, I've already scheduled a bunch of posts. Lots of reviews to come! Anyways, onto the books!

For review:

Prophecy Girl by Cecily White: I've seen this book around a couple times around the blogosphere and it sounds pretty good!

The Collector by Victoria Scott: Dante Walker. Need I say more? ;)

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty: I loved Keertana's review of this book, so I decided to request it! I hope this book is for me. >.< Then again, Jamie's review also completely convinced me to pick it up.

Ink by Amanda Sun: To be honest, I have no idea what this book is about. I just like the cover. #coverwhoreftw

True by Erin McCarthy: Thanks to Vy for letting me know about this READ NOW galley of a New Adult book! <3 Can't wait to read this.

Much thanks to Entangled, Scholastic, Harlequin Teen Australia, Penguin Group Berkley NAL, and Netgalley for the review copies! <3


Borrowed:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer: It's about time that I pick up this series! I'm going to be trying out the audio, hopefully I'll like it... It's the same narrator as Eleanor & Park, and I've heard great things about that one.

Bruised by Sarah Skilton: I remember reading Maja's review of this book and I've been on the lookout ever since. So excited to read this one! It sounds really unique.

17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma: I also remember getting declined for this book on Netgalley & Edelweiss. -__- Nonetheless, I wanna read it! NOW! ;)
Bought:
Storybound by Marissa Burt: THIS IS A FREEBIE ON AMAZON KINDLE. Middle grade, looks awesome!

That's all I got this week! Quiet a lot, but that's why I'm an avid reader, right? ;) What did you guys get this week?

Happy reading,
Jen xx