Full-Ride by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Becca Jones is the daughter of a criminal. She and her mother have decided to leave their old home behind and start fresh in a place where no one knows their past. No one seems to suspect a thing with her mother's careful decisions and her father's lawyer's help. Becca feels almost normal. Of course she doesn't have a Facebook account, cell phone, or the big mansion she used to live in but things could have been worse. She could have had to stay at her old house where everyone was judging her. As she begins to adapt to her new life, she starts to plan for the future. But going to college might dig up her past and Becca isn't sure she wants to risk it.

The overall plot was extremely original and I don't recall reading many thrillers with this kind of theme. I would have liked the ending to be wrapped up better rather than the cliffhanger I was given but other than that, the ending was perfect. The pace of the story was great for the most part but about two-thirds of the way through it got a bit slow and then suddenly in the end the pace picked up instantly.
Becca and her mother seemed to be rather boring and somewhat stale characters in the beginning but slowly began to grow and change. Her father was the most interesting character in the story. This is probably largely due to the fact that everything happened because of his actions. He had a complex personality that was much more difficult to understand than Becca's and her mother's. Becca's friends add a bit of personality into the story but sometimes feel as though they are present purely to add suspense and fill up the plot.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Susie Salmon has died. But no one knows how or who killed her. The only evidence comes when a dog uncovers her elbow. No matter how much her family is trying to deny it, they can't shake of the feeling that maybe Susie is actually gone and never coming back. Soon they begin to accept the truth but not easily. The next thing Susie knows, her entire family is falling apart not to mention all the pain her former friends are in. Lindsey, her little sister, is tired of all the negative attention she's been getting. Her mother is confused as to what she wants in life now. Her father doesn't want to let go of all the memories. And her little brother has no idea as to what's going on. Will both Susie and her family finally move on?

The overall plot was kind of unclear in the beginning. But as the story progressed the main plot seemed to be the journey that everyone close to Susie took after she died. The main theme of the story is rather intense which can make it seem unappealing at times. The tone was also extremely intense at the beginning and even though it started to mild out eventually, the echo remained even after the story was over. Overall, I thought the book was great.
Susie was an average main character. There were times were you forgot about her and the significance of her being the narrator of the story. The secondary characters were the most important and relatable. Some of these characters include Lindsey, Susie's mother, Susie's grandmother, Samuel and Susie's father.

Soccerland by Beth Choat

Flora's life revolves around soccer. It's one of the only things that she enjoys doing. Not only is soccer Flora's dream but it's also her escape. It helps her forget everything stressful going on in her life such as her mother's cancer. The stress of trying to get into the Under-15 U.S.A. Girls' Soccer Team is really getting to Flora. Soon all of her time is spent practicing and practicing to hopefully get into the team. But when disaster strikes, will Flora have the strength and motivation to continue pursuing her dream?

You don't need to understand much about soccer before you read this book. The story explains any important soccer terms. That helps the reader connect to story even if they have no previous about soccer. The ending was realistic and is by far the best part of the book. It wasn't cheesy or impractical but it was honest and motivating. Although it wasn't really a happy ending, it was powerful and optimistic. The ending was also open to the reader to decide how they would like it to end. Overall, this was a very sweet story with an inspiring plot.

Flora is a modern day hero. She is very easy to connect to. Even though she is a very serious soccer player and it is a huge part of her life, her experiences make her relatable to almost anyone. She is determined and knows how to balance her time and energy. She battles stress, pressure and insecurities and overcomes them. Flora grew so much during the story and is worth paying close attention to.

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

Kate has always been dreaming of going to Yale one day. As Kate knows, getting into Yale isn't easy. So she has been working extra hard everyday. Sometimes five times as much as the other students are but one day it'll all be worth it. But one day when Kate meets her "twin". At first she can't process the thought of how there is someone who looks exactly like her but isn't. But maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Now the real Kate Larson can do half as much work as she used to. But the computer version of Kate might cause some problems in the real Kate's life that no one could have predicted.
The overall idea of a twin version of the main character is not super original but yet it isn't overused either. I would have liked a better description of how Kate actually got a duplicate version of herself because it was a little bit confusing. The ending of the novel was perfect. It wasn't cheesy, lame or predictable. Overall, it was an average book. There were some confusing parts to the story but the other parts that were more relatable and exiting make up for it.
Kate was an above average character. She was determined, thoughtful and had an clever way of thinking. Rina, Kate's double, is kind of the opposite of Kate. She makes the story more humorous and keeps the story going on. Without her, the story wouldn't have anything interesting going on. There are other characters in the story but they aren't as essential to the story.

I've reviewed She's So Money by Cherry Cheva too so click here to see it.

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

Anna has spent her entire life trying to repay the world for her parents' sins. She never should have been born. It's all her parents' fault that she is forced to live as a Surplus. They signed the declaration and choose to live forever but then they just had to break the law and have children. Now Anna is trying to make herself useful so she can have the best life possible for someone like her but maybe the new Surplus, Peter, might change her mind about who she is and her purpose.
The plot was more original than I expected. There are many books about the concepts of immortality* but the fact that it's set in 2140, makes it more exciting and interesting. This is almost impossible to put down. Anna journey is full of surprises and suspense. The descriptions were vivid and were very important. The whole world of The Declaration almost seemed real due to the enormous amount of thought put into creating it. I absolutely loved this book!
Anna was an excellent choice for a main character because it was so easy to put yourself in her shoes. Peter is also a very likeable character mainly due to his bravery and determination. There are also many other characters who are worth noting but Anna and Peter are obvious favorites so it's hard to pay attention to the others.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Liesel Meminger has just stolen her first book. The first book out of a series of many more. Young Liesel later begins to live with her fosters parents during World War II. With the help of Hans Hubermann, Liesel's foster father, Liesel slowly learns how to read. Before she knows it, she is stealing books from wherever books can be found. But this nine-year-old girl's life isn't easy, war is a dangerous time especially if your family is hiding a Jew in their basement.
The narrator is a very interesting and unusual one and having Death tell the story was a very good choice. The little details in this book really are the reason that it is such a great book. From the odd friendship between the mayor's wife and Liesel to the snowman Liesel made with Max, the small details complete the story. Even though the very beginning of the story seemed rather slow, the powerful and unforgettable ending is the main reason why this book can easily become a favorite.
Even though she is not the obvious definition of heroic, Liesel is incredibly heroic for a nine-year-old girl. But Death was probably the most interesting character by far especially with his interesting point of view. In the beginning, I never thought that Death would have been so sympathetic but as the story went on, he started to become more and more caring toward Liesel. The secondary characters were a lot better than average especially Ruby, Max, and Rosa and Hans Hubermann. 

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Cassandra and Max-Ernest meet each other unexpectedly one day. Who would have thought that they would become friends? Soon they find themselves caught in mystery surrounding  Pietro Bergamo, a magician, his brother and The Symphony of Smells. But with Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais after them, Cass and Max-Ernest are desperate to help their friends, save themselves and protect a secret that they don't even know.

This book is meant for children from about ten to twelve but I think that it can appeal to people slightly older than that as well. The beginning portion of this book is one of the best and most attention-grabbing. This novel is pretty similar to Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events" so if you enjoy books like that then this is definitely a good book to read. I would have liked to see more of a suspenseful build up toward the climax. Sometimes all the secrets and mysteries in the book were annoying and seemed unnecessary but make the series suspenseful.

Cassandra, a survivalist, and her friend Max-Ernest, a talkative eleven-year-old are not necessarily the classic protagonists. They were not at all annoying (even though Max-Ernest is supposed to be) and absolutely hilarious. Pseudonymous Bosch is not only the author of the novel but also the narrator of the series and the mystery surrounding him helps making this book hard to put down. 

Monster High by Lisi Harrison

 Melody Carver and Frankie Stein are very different girls but they do have one thing in common. They're both new to Merston High School. Frankie loves who she is even the fact that she's a monster. Frankie wants to embrace her green skin and not be forced to hide it and with the help of her new friend Melody maybe Frankie has a chance. Melody meets Frankie and is determined to help her and show everyone at school that everyone is equal. Can two girls convince an entire school of monsters and humans that they can get along?

I picked up this book because of Lisi Harrison's other great books and I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was very interesting and I liked it a lot but it was kind of different from her other novels. The best part to this book were the unique characters. The overall concept of getting people to accept monsters was well thought out but the individual plot's climax for the first book was unclear. The pacing of this book was perfect. Great book to read anytime.

I recommend paying close to the characters as they were the most interesting part of the novel. Both Melody and Frankie were incredible main characters. Melody was smart and relatable while Frankie was outgoing and hilarious. I did like the concept of the some students in Merston High being monsters as it made the story more suspenseful. Some secondary characters that you should look out for are Lala, Jackson, DJ, and Cleo.

Here is my review of Lisi Harrison's Alphas.

The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

Allegra Biscotti and Emma Rose two completely different girls. So the fact that they are the same person is a little shocking. Emma Rose is a simple and quiet girl with a talent for designing while Allegra Biscotti is outgoing and confidant. Emma unexpectedly runs into someone who might just be able to help her gain fame. But can reserved Emma really stand in the spotlight? To solve the problem, Allegra Biscotti is born. Sure her life designing glamorous dresses is fun but with the pressures of her other life when will Emma ever be able to relax?
The little sketches in the margins of the book are cute and help you visualize the story. The double life concept seemed very overused and typical but eventually both the girls started to become more interesting and original. The difficulty that Emma went through to keep her identity a secret was very believable and added suspense to the story. The beginning of the book seemed to rely very heavily on coincidences but all the hard work that Emma put into her work make up for it. Overall, it was a nice novel and makes you want to continue reading the series.
Both Allegra and Emma are very interesting characters to read about. Its hard to believe that they are the same person. Emma is simple and easy to relate to while Allegra's the definition of fabulous. The secondary characters aren't given much importance and I don't understand the point of many of them but I'm sure that will clear up in the future books.

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

The Cray's wildlife refuge is slowly going broke after an injury prevents Wahoo's father, Mickey, from working. But soon he is hired to provide wild animals for reality star Derek Badger show. Derek isn't making friends with any of the animals especially when he decides to wrestle with an alligator, two snakes and a bat. After being chomped on by various animals, Derek finally runs away into Florida's everglades. Wahoo and his friend Tuna are now looking for the missing star. But how long a fake reality star survive in the wilderness by himself? And Tuna's father, who is chasing after them with his gun, isn't making it any easier on them.

Like Carl Hiaasen's other novels such as Hoot and Flush, Chomp shows great concern for the environment. The setting is wonderful, the everglades is known for its various and rather exotic animals. I loved reading the descriptions for the animals and the wilderness. This book has the perfect balance of seriousness and comedy. While the conflict between Tuna and her father is very serious, Derek Badger's  adventures by himself give the novel a fun and lighter feel. Especially when Derek thinks that he is turning into a vampire after he is bitten by a bat. It's definitely worth reading.

The characters are really important. Derek Badger is a hilarious and stereotypical reality star. You can clearly tell that he has no idea what he is doing by the way that he treats the animals. Wahoo and Tuna are very similar characters and not only because they both were named after fish. Wahoo is very heroic even though it doesn't seem like it at the beginning. But once he tries to help Tuna, you can tell that he is a really brave person.



The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky



One gown can really change your life. Louise always knew that vintage clothing had special powers but having the ability to take her to another time and place is more than she expected. A seemingly normal vintage clothing sale gives way to a journey that seems to be headed for disaster. Louise Lambert is whisked on board the Titanic and she knows how it ends. The drama in this glamorous era is almost as disastrous as what is to come if she doesn't convince everyone that the ship is going to sink. Louise's and the other passenger's lives are in danger. Can she really save them? Can she go back home?
My favorite parts of this book were the pictures that went along with Louise's outfits. The descriptions of her dresses were nice but the chance to actually see the vibrant colors and different fabrics really enhance the reader's experience. Quite a few of questions were left unanswered but there is a second book so I'm sure they will become more clear soon. At first I thought that this would be like other time-traveling books. But having it's roots in vintage clothing brought it a lot of originality. Overall, it is a great book to read in your free time.
Louise has an interesting point of view. Being an outsider witnessing all the events on the Titanic and knowing that it won't be like this for long is different. The climax was to be expected but the way that Louise handled it was clever and courageous. There was a lot of personal growth that she went through by the end of the book. Louise gained confident and knowledge. This was a great way to start off the series.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen



Nothing will keep Jessica from running. Even after a bus accident, in which she loses her leg, Jessica is determined to keep running. Even after she manages to recover from this life changing event, Jessica might still not be able to run like she used to. With the help of her friends and family, Jessica gets a prosthetic leg so she can continue living her dream. Jessica's lucky to be alive but losing her dream is her biggest fear. Will she let her accident get in the way of the one thing she lives for?
Jessica's recovery portion of the story was the most interesting and powerful. This a touching and inspirational novel. It is about a sixteen-year-old girl who loses her leg and people with the same or slightly similar problems can definitely relate to this book as well. This book shows that if you love to do something, you can overcome nearly all obstacles. Wendelin Van Draanen paces the story perfectly with empathizes on how difficult this new adjustment is for Jessica. There is no question as to what happened in between the chapters. It felt like you were there for the entire novel. This is definitely one of my favorite books by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Jessica is resilient. No matter how bad things got for her, she was strong and determined. Everyone can look up to her and she makes a great role model. Her friends are super supportive and are one of the main reason why she recovered so quickly. Jessica is one of the most interesting and admirable characters ever in a book.

If you click here you'll be able to see my review of Swear to Howdy by Wendelin Van Draanen.

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Jane Turner has a theory. She believes that a person's coffee can tell you a lot about them therefore making it easier to find someone's perfect match. Jane can't believe that it actually works when she brings her best friends together. Her talent does not go unnoticed, soon her boss wants to use it to help promote the coffee shop. Espressology, what Jane calls matchmaking through coffee, is a bigger hit than she ever imagined. Soon, it starts to take up most of her time. With work and interviews, this seventeen-year-old cannot shake off a weird feeling in her stomach. She can find the perfect match for everyone around her yet she can't find the love of her life. Can Jane find love herself?
The concept of Espressology is the most interesting part of this novel. To me this book had a slight Emma feel to it with the matchmaking. But the two books are very different as well. The story was short and sweet. Each individual love story, whether it was a small one or the main one, was seemingly perfect. The climax was somewhat difficult to point out but eventually you could tell that it was more of a personal struggle for Jane. Of course, a more action-packed climax would build more suspense or had more of a  personal struggle. She had to make a pretty tough decision that most people wouldn't have been able to make under the same circumstances. Overall, it was a cute and simple book to read.
Jane is relatable and innovative. She is a clever girl with an idea and receives fame for it. Her ending is the kind that most people would dream of. Jane Turner is one of those characters that shows tremendous amounts of growth by the end of the book. Her best friends Em and Cam are also great but the story revolves around Jane so the supporting characters are given the same emphasize.

Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noel

Winter and Sloane want to change. As freshman, they were nerds but as sophomores, they think they can bury their past and become popular. They make a pact to join the cool group and help the other one get in. Sloane is Winter's best friend, but then why is she ditching her for the popular kids? Without her best friend, Winter decides that Sloane deserves revenge. She then creates a blog that relieves all of Sloane's secrets. Who knew her blog would become so popular? When she gets the chance, will she choose popularity or save her ex-best friend?

I loved Alyson Noel's Evermore Series* so I had to read this book. Overall, the plot was pretty good. And it shows how stereotypical popularity can be. The one thing that I would have liked to see different would have been the ending. It wasn't as resolved as I would have liked it. The beginning was great though. It proved the perfect amount of background information and perfect pace. Great story and I would love to read it again.

Winter is a great main character. She was creative and confident. And even from the beginning Sloane seemed kind of evil. She made the prefect "villain" in the story. After thinking about the book, Sloane had a weak personality and Winter was definitely the stronger character. Winter was the perfect role model towards the end of the book. Those were the two most important characters but there lots of other great ones too.

Here is a link to my review of Alyson Noel's Evermore.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Not many exciting things happen in Gatlin. But Ravenwood's niece coming to town has got everyone's attention. Especially Ethan Wate's. The girl who shows up every night in his extremely real dreams has shown up, but why doesn't she remember him? The closer Ethan becomes to Lena, the more tangled up he finds himself in her twisted family. Caught in the world of light and dark Casters, Ethan and Lena start to learn where she comes from but when you spent your entire life thinking everything is unknown, it's hard to imagine that someone somewhere actually knows the truth.

The book started out slowly but picked up pace rapidly after Ethan and Lena actually meet for the first time. I would have liked to seen more of a conclusion. It felt slightly rushed to me and I didn't really understand what happened. But maybe it left off like that and will be better explained in the second book. Overall, it was wonderful and hard to put down. Gatlin is the perfect location for this story and the history behind it is powerful. I haven't read the second book yet so I'll just have to wait.

The characters are exciting. The only people who I would have liked to find out more information were Amma and Marian. The girls like Savannah and Emily are stereotypical but very believable and hilarious. Ethan was a great main character and has a strong point of view. Lena is rebellious in a classy and believable way as well.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda is now an outcast after she called the police to a party. But no one knows why. Maybe if they knew what she went through they would try to help her. Just when Melinda thinks she has a friend who doesn't know why she is shunned by her peers, Melinda is alone again. Heather was the closet thing to a friend that she's had since the incident. But maybe, just maybe, with David and Mr. Freeman help, Melinda can finally speak up about the truth.

I know that book is know a movie but I have yet to watch it. The plot line was very serious and can be difficult to read at times. It is a very powerful story. I thought that the fact that Melinda wasn't talking was weird but by the end you can tell how significant that that was. It was a great novel and it's no surprise that it won so many awards.

Melinda is kind of considered to be a hero. She is powerful and even though at first she doesn't seem like it, by the end of the book she really is. David and Mr. Freeman are also very important. David helps her learn to speak up and Mr. Freeman gives her a safe environment to do so. Those are the three most significant characters but there are many other you should pay attention to.

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Ruby Oliver has been through a lot. More than most fifteen year olds have to deal with. Boyfriendless and friendless Ruby can only find comfort in writing her lists and talking to her shrink. Boys are the only thing on Ruby's mind but maybe making a list about every guy she ever liked was a bad idea. All this stress can't be good for you. These panic attacks aren't really helping Ruby either. Being a social outcast has proven to be the nightmare it seems to be.
The best part of the story was obviously Ruby's witty and hilarious voice. She is a great narrator and is one of the main reasons putting this book down is practically impossible. Surprisingly this book is on the shorter side and kind of fast paced. The one thing that I would have changed would be making the panic attacks that Ruby had more serious. For some reason, when I was reading those parts, it didn't seem like Ruby was that scared of them but afterwards she says that they are awful. Those parts could have been lengthened and more detailed.
The characters were the most important part of the book. Characters in most other books tend to become slightly less interesting and more annoying but not in this book. They were all relatable and exciting. Each individual was given specific attributes that could only fit them. Ruby was like an everyday superhero especially once you find out how much she went through. All of Ruby's "boyfriends" were hilarious as well.

Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben



The only thing the Allegra has known is her piano. But the cut throat-world of Julliard, Allegra knows just how much her career is dependent on how well she plays. Soon her entire life is filled with practicing and attending a normal school on the side. How much longer can she put she put up with her hectic schedule? But quitting playing her piano is out question, especially with her musically-gifted parents. But the stress starts to build up and Allegra questions how much she actually loves the piano.

I loved the fact that the book is split into four parts or seasons like the title suggests. One thing that I really didn't like was that the book suddenly felt like it got ten times faster halfway through. I understand that the beginning was meant to be slow but the transition between the two paces could have been smoother. I loved that this brought attention to the rigorous world of classical music. I think that this a great book with a clever plot and inspiring characters.

Allegra was a pretty average main character but seems to have a rather robotic at times. She came of as much more mature than she should be. But that was kind of realistic considering that she is planning on pursuing a career in music at a young age. Her parents were great and are responsible for the main plot. Each and every single character was quite original and had a big impact on the story and the outcome.

Swear to Howdy by Wendelin Van Draanen

Joey and Russell are best friends. They share every secret and get into trouble together. If you can't trust your best friend, who can you trust? Joey Banks can make an adventure out of anything and Rusty Cooper has never met anyone quite like him. Who else would have the guts to put a frog in their sister's underwear drawer or put bugs in their sister's drinks? But the secrets are starting to pile up, and start to become more and more deadly. Suddenly a light-hearted prank has disastrous consequences and both boys find themselves piled with mountains of guilt.

I loved the beginning of the story which was very light-hearted and hilarious. The pranks that Joey taught of were clever and innocent. There was a definite and clear beginning to when the pranks started to become more serious. The serious turn that book took was scary and made me want to read the book even more. The story made me cry and laugh and it wasn't even that long. I totally recommend it if you want a quick read.

Both of the main characters were exciting to read about. Joey and Rusty were the most exciting best friends ever. The secondary characters were pretty important. You have the story in order to understand the importance of each character.

I've reviewed Wendelin Van Draanen's Running Dream here.



The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Ella has never been noticed by many people except for her friends so it is definitely shocking when Alex, one of the most popular guy in the school, starts to talk and possibly flirt with her. Will her new boyfriend cause problems with the people she can one hundred percent trust such as her only two friends? Can she even trust Alex? He refuses to tell anyone about them. Ella must find out his reason, is it just to protect her or himself?
This book's plot started much more quickly than I expected. One second Ella was single and the next she had a boyfriend. There was a touch of humor in this which was completely unexpected because I thought that it was going to be a cheesy teen love story. The background of the story is very sweet, like Ella's restaurant, her failing French, and Alex's parents. The one thing that I didn't like was that the whole "invisible girl ends up with the popular boy". It has been used so many times that I'm sick of it. I also thought that there would more emphasis on the concept of Truth or Dare. Overall, it was okay and fun to read if you are looking for a relaxing read.
The characters were kind of hard to keep track of but they were original. The most interesting character has to be Edward. Even though he is a dead artist also known as Edward Willing, Ella still has conversations with him. I would have liked to see and learn more about Frankie and his twin Daniel. I always thought that Ella should have ended up with Daniel rather than Alex but that's just my opinion.



Avalon High by Meg Cabot

 

Ellie has recently moved to Annapolis, Maryland from her old home in Minnesota with her parents. She starts to go to Avalon High, which is seemingly normal on the outside. But it doesn't take long for Ellie to notice how different it actually is. Is what Mr. Morton saying the truth? Is it actually possible that the people at her high school actually might be the reincarnations from the King Arthur legend? If everything that Mr. Morton claimed is true, then she's the Lady of the Lake and must make sure the world is free from great evil. Ellie must make Will, the supposed King Arthur, believe who he is, it's the only way to keep the dark forces at bay. Will Ellie be able to all this and still keep her friends and crush?
I happen to love this modern take on the classic legend. The Arthurian legend is cleverly woven into an everyday high school. I loved the ending, it made me feel like crying. It is nearly just as powerful as the actual story. The story heavily relied on coincidences, which is something that made the story feel kind of unbelievable but somewhat magical. Overall, this novel lacked humor but the powerful combination of fantasy and romance made up for it. The only thing that I absolutely hated was that there is no sequel.
The characters closely resembled the actual characters. Will clearly was the reincarnation of King Arthur and Ellie clearly was the Lady of the Lake. Ellie's parents were most important than they seemed. I loved every single one the characters. They were my favorite part of the entire story.

There is another one of Meg Cabot's books that I reviewed. You can check that out here.

Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

Who knew being sixteen could be so hard? Nikki moves to Erin Heights after her mother gets married again. Life seems to be going fine after all she is best friends with one of one of the most popular girls at her new school. And she might also have a super cute boyfriend. But on her sixteenth birthday, she meets a gorgeous stranger, Michael, who claims that her demon father sent him to bring her to the Shadowlands. As the daughter of a demon and a human, it means that she is the first half-demon in years. Even Nikki doesn't know what she's capable of. With her father dying, she must decide if she wants to take the throne. But what about Michael and why is she feeling so attracted to him? But Nikki Donovan knows that her life isn't getting easier.
I love that this book shines a light on demons. I haven't heard about that many books based on demons these days. I love the beginning as it jumped right into the story. The middle was shocking and mysterious. But the end was the best part, it was suspenseful yet still wrapped the story up nicely. I love the setting, you could tell that a lot of thought was put into thinking out the role of the Shadowlands and the rest of the Underworld. I didn't think that Nikki's potential relationship at the beginning was really that necessary. I also didn't like some parts in the middle that could have been taken out. But overall, the unnecessary parts made the novel more suspenseful.

The characters were very relatable and Nikki's voice was very clear and easy to follow. Michael warmed up towards the end of the book and his chilly personality in the beginning was necessary. Nikki's best friend seemed to be holding a big secret that will be revealed in the second book. Overall the characters didn't take away from the novel but only made it more interesting.

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Clea Raymond, the daughter of a famous surgeon and important politician, has made a name for herself as a photojournalist. Her father left disappeared one day and has yet to return. It's one day that she takes a photograph and notices a gorgeous man in the background. Who is he? Why is she drawn to him? It becomes harder and harder to trust him when she finds out that he could be connected to her father. Her life in the spotlight has become even dangerous. Is this beautiful stranger her guardian angel or just trying to kill her?

This book series reminders me of the Evermore series by Alyson Noel. They both have a love triangle and a mysterious elixir. Yet they both are very different and interesting on their own. I love the many different settings that this novel took place. The ending had a cliffhanger which made the next book in the series even more exciting. But I didn't like that the love triangle wasn't really that suspenseful, from the beginning you could tell who she was going to end up with. Nonetheless, Elixir is worth reading.

Sage, the person in  Clea's photographs, is so mysterious you can't help but want to read more and more about his past. Clea was a pretty cool main character but at times she felt a little bit emotionless. I loved all of the characters, this is one of those rare books were all the characters are interesting and exciting to read about. I can't wait for the new books to come out so I can read more about Clea's father.

 

Little Women And Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Emily knows how hard it is to be the middle sister. As soon as she gets an assignment to write about what she would change from a novel, she immediately thinks of the Little Women. There is so many changes that she can make, but fixing them is more difficult than she ever expected, especially after she finds herself in the world of the March sisters. Adapting in this new environment, is more diffcult than living at her own home. A crush on a boy from 1860, four other sisters and one big suprise no one saw coming will change Emily's life forever.
I am so happy that this kind of book was written since I know so many people would love to change things in their favorite books. Little Women is a great book and this book was an enjoyable modern take on it. Some of the events that happened were unnessesary and the story would have been the same without them. I liked that Emily was a modern girl put into a different time period. My favorite part was the end because it was so suprising and so hard to see coming.
Emily was annoying at the start at the story but towards the end, you could tell how much she grew up. The March sisters felt quite similar to ones in the original Little Women. I liked that their personality didn't change much even though the stories were kind of different.

The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau

Zeeta comes to Ecuador with her mother but what she really wants is to live a normal life. But that's difficult when your mother is anything like Layla. She meets Wendell, who is an adopted boy from Colorado, looking for his real parents. Zeeta agrees to help him not at all expecting how much danger she could be in. How many secrets could this small town possibly have? And despite his secrets, Zeeta can't help but develop feelings for Wendell. Can she have the normal life that she''s always wanted?

My favorite part of the story was the setting. The story transitioned from one beautiful location to another and the descriptions make you feel like you're actually there. There was much more suspense than I thought there would be. Wendell and Zeeta's sweet romance gradually built with time. The concept of finding your birth parents was not necessarily that original but the small details helped to make it seem more unique. Sometimes Zeeta's tone did not have enough emotion for the situation. I thought it was worth reading.

Layla, Zeeta's mother, was fun to read about. Zeeta's father was a mystery and brought about a good amount of suspense that will carry on into the second book. Zeeta paled in comparison to Wendell. Wendell was more unique because of his ability to predict the future. I thought that the main character should be more interesting than the second main character. 

The Fallen by Liz Braswell

Chloe King's sixteenth birthday was not one that she could ever expect. She certainly didn't expect to die. How in the world is she still okay? No one else would have survived the fall that she had. Chloe must accept that she's not normal. The changes that she's facing are surely not the ones that any other sixteen old have to deal with. Who else has claws? With eight lives left, what will Chloe do to avoid dying again?

I really liked the story line. This book has the perfect blend action and romance. The story started quickly and the ending was also very exciting. The relatively fast pace was perfect throughout the entire story. My favorite part of this story was the mystery surrounding Chloe's father. This book is also very suspenseful even though she has nine lives. I definitely would recommend it.

The characters were a big part of the story. They are hardly similarities between the characters in the book to those in the television series. I personally preferred the characters in the television series. They seemed more relatable and realistic than they seemed in the book.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Cate as a lot to deal with especially since her sisters, mother and her are witches. Before her mother died, Cate promised that she would do anything to keep her sisters safe. No one can know or else it could be disastrous. Then Cate comes across an even bigger secret that makes being witches even harder. Finn Belastra, the extremely good-looking and highly forbidden gardener, isn't making Cate's decision to protect her sisters any easier. Will joining the Sisterhood to keep her family safe be worth giving up true love?

I love the plot of the story. The pacing of the story was perfect as it built suspense but didn't drag on forever. The decisions that Cate had to make were very believable. The use of foreshadowing made perfect sense and helped enhance the story. The setting and time period were the best possible ones for this story. The only thing that I really hated was that I have to wait one and a half years for the next book. Overall, an amazing and well thought out novel.

The Cahill have such an interesting story that I can't help but be excited to see how they deal with it. Finn was a classic character that you just can't help but fall in love with. I found out that as the book continued I wanted to know more about the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. I guess I have to wait I little while longer to find out.

Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer



Cindy Ella is tired of hearing about prom. She doesn't care about her dress, date, and shoes. It doesn't help that that's all that her stepsisters are talking about. Cindy turns to the school newspaper to get her opinion out there. After trashing the prom, it looks like no one is on her side except for her best friends. and surprisingly Adam Silver, who just happens to be Cindy's crush. Can she still have her fairy tale ending. I always love Robin Palmer's takes on classic fairy tales. The book felt fast paced and I enjoyed the slight surprises - although they were pretty easy to see from the beginning - they were still interesting when they happened. The ending seemed too happy and unrealistic. But other than that I can't complain about anything else in the story.                                                                                                       My favorite part of the story was Cindy. She is a much stronger and more empowering main character than Cinderella. Even though her stepsisters and her "fairy godmother" still had the same roles as they did in the original Cinderella, they felt quite original.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

It's their first summer apart. After coming across a magical pair of pants that happen to fit all four of them perfectly, they promise each other that they will send the pants around to each other no matter where they are. Lena is going to Greece to stay with her grandparents. Carmen is staying with her father and his new family. Bridget is going to Baja California to play soccer. And Tibby is staying at home and working. Are the pants magical enough to help all four of them deal with their complicated relationships?

The overall tone of the book changed to fit the different girls. It really helped to connect and understand each of them. The story that seemed to stand out the most was Tibby's, it was sweet and brave. I can't think of any significant negatives in the story. Some of the decisions that the characters, especially Carmen and Bridget, made were not the ones that I would make. Overall this book is totally worth your time.

All of the characters were important. Lena, Bridget, Tibby and Carmen are the perfect set of friends but not in an unrealistic way. The supporting characters such as Kostos were important and stories with them as the main character would be interesting to read about.

If you want to hear about my own "traveling pants", you can click here.