Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

Title: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
Author: Kat Rosenfield
Pages: 304


Becca has always longed to break free from her small, backwater hometown. But the discovery of an unidentified dead girl on the side of a dirt road sends the town--and Becca--into a tailspin. Unable to make sense of the violence of the outside world creeping into her backyard, Becca finds herself retreating inward, paralyzed from moving forward for the first time in her life.Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson's life are intercut with Becca's own summer as the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and relationships on the edge twist the reader closer and closer to the truth about Amelia's death.

My Rating:✰✰

I went into this book, thinking that it was going to be a good thriller, but found myself not enjoying it. It was hard for me to continue and it lacked in many areas.

My biggest problem with this book was the way it was written. When I first started it, I actually liked the way it was written with perfect sentences but after a while I found it being dragged and repetitive. The sentences were very long and too descriptive for me and took up a lot of the book.

Another thing that was confusing was what was actually happening in the story. There was so much unnecessary information and details used that made it quite boring. I was also confused by what was going and when it was taking place. This book was just one big confusion that never really stated what was happening.
The point of views also was strange since it kept changing within a chapter.  I didn't mind the changing POV but the writing in general was too much. at some parts the time also changed which made it more confusing.

I didn't find any connections with the characters and felt that they were kind of flat. The plot also felt kind of flat with nothing happened.

---
It did not surprised me that James killed her. But it was very confusing on how he did so.
This book was a big disappointment for me but I wouldn't stop others from reading it.
 

 

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Title: Keeping the Moon
Author: Sarah Dessen
Pages: 228

Colie expects the worst when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along.


 My Rating:✰✰✰✰


This was my first Sarah Dessen book and I did enjoy it. I really liked how this contemporary book had different qualities than others. The fact that the main character, Collie, had dyed black and a lip piercing and wasn't like a classic natural pretty girl. Her story starts when she goes off to her Aunt Mira's place for the summer since her mother is on tour. I  did feel like Collie's mom wasn't that great and I didn't care much for her. Her character wasn't that important in the story and seemed bland otherwise.

This was a nice coming of age story and I thought it was great seeing how much Collie developed. She had a very unfortunate past and I was happy to see that her life got better.
This book was very character driven and I enjoyed many of them.
Morgan and Isabel were just great. They both had a great relationship and supported each other while being their own individuals. I also liked how Morgan and Isabel were both a little older than Collie. It made the book more unique and I loved the friendship and thought that it was one of the best things about this book.
Mira was so wacky but I thought she was such a different person. I could really picture her house and how she acted. I really liked her reasoning behind why she used broken things that never worked properly. She was such a bold character that didn't care what others thought and was satisfied with her self which I loved.

I thought the love relationship with Collie and Norman was okay but not amazing. It definitely wasn't that significant to me and I didn't swoon over it. But I was glad that Collie was happy with him.

I think this book has many relatable topics and characters that readers will be able to sympathize with. It had many big themes and was a good summer read.

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han (The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, We'll Always have Summer)

My Overall Review:

The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy was a very light and nice read that involved fluffy love relationships and nice character development. I do recommend this trilogy although I didn't find it fantastic. It was simple and was easy and fun to read.

 

 

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 276


Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along

My Rating:✰✰✰✰

This was a very nice light summer read. Reading this book really did make me want to do something in the summer and have a beach house. I don't think the love relationships are the best, but I am curious to see what happens in the end. I think both Conrad and Jeremiah seem like a good people and have their own charms. I personally like Conrad better since he seems a little bit more mysterious. I think Cam was kind of random and unnecessary to the story though. Belly seemed a little immature since she stuck out her tongue way too much. But I did enjoy this light read and will be continuing this series.

 

Title: It's Not Summer Without You
Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 288

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.
But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.

My Rating:✰✰✰✰

This book is what I expected to be. It was similar to the first one because it was just as good and light. I still don't feel any connections with the characters that much but hope to in the last book.
 
Currently, I don't know who she is going to end up with. I thought that I was going to like Conrad and I did at first, but he seems too stubborn so maybe Jeremiah will end up being with Belly. Conrad is just very complicated and Belly keeps falling in and out of love with him.
 
I really loved it when the three came back and tried to save the beach house. I was even happy when Laurel, Belly's mom, came and won against Mr. Fisher.
Something I didn't really love in this book was the way it was written. Some chapters talked about the past and the one after the next continued that time which confused me a little. I also felt like Jeremiah's chapters were short enough to really be nonexistent since they were not consistent.
Susannah's death in this book does play a huge role and I do miss her. I feel bad for Laurel since she was so close to her.
I am looking forward to see how this will all end.
 

 

Title: We'll Always Have Summer
Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 291

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

My Rating:✰✰✰✰1/2

This book was my favorite out of this trilogy. I loved how it took place when Belly starts going to college and I could really see the development in her. When I read how she was already with Jeremiah, I already knew she was going to end up with Conrad and I rooted for Con anyway. I liked Jeremiah but really thought of him as a brother to Belly versus a lover.
I was very shocked when Jeremiah proposed to Belly, especially since he cheated on her. When she said yes, I could already tell that that wasn't happening.
I did like Conrad's chapters more than I liked Jeremiah's. I still think that if Conrad was more honest about his feelings, everything would've been easier to solve. But I actually kind of enjoyed the drama in this book.
I also really like Taylor in this book since the two didn't fight. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to the other characters that Belly was friends with. The only thing is that I feel like even after this book, Belly would still sometimes look at Jeremiah in a way since they did have a past. But I do hope that their lives are better in the future.
I am very happy with this ending and am glad it ended the way it did.

Wild by Alex Mallory

Title: Wild
Author: Alex Mallory
Pages: 448


The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving— that’s all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he’s the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger…

Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy— he’s stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.

Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he’s not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.

As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade’s past tear them apart?

A YA Tarzan retelling.


My Rating:
✰✰1/2

The main reason I didn't like this book was because it wasn't interesting enough to keep me reading. I feel like this book had a lot of potential of being good, but instead it was very slow and not enjoyable. It took me a very long time to finish this book because I did not feel like reading it.

The characters were alright but I didn't connect with any of them. The actual plot of the story was strange as well. One of the main characters, Cade, lives on his own in the forest apart from everyone else, but why? The answer wasn't developed enough for me to appreciate the concept of the story. Everything else that happens just seemed pointless and didn't add anything to the plot.

I didn't really like how it was almost insta-lovey. When Dara and Cade see each other for the first time, they both get really deep emotions which I didn't understand. But I did like that their relationship wasn't going too fast, but I did not like how it started.

My biggest problem with this book is the fact that they made the paparazzi such a big deal. A lot of the things in the book was over exaggerated which I did not like. This will be discussed more in the spoilers portion. 

I really disliked the ending. It seemed pretty pointless and hopeless. Going back to the thing with the paparazzi, did Cade really need to move somewhere else because of them? It seemed as if the story used the press as a way to push the plot forward which I did not like. It was very repetitive and seemed unrealistic.  

The writing was very average and okay. It was easy to read, which I liked, but it wasn't spectacular. Just overall, the book was slow and not very thrilling or fun to read.
But please do not make my personal opinion of this book a reason for you not to pick it up. Some people actually had enjoyed this book so feel free to take a shot at it!

Shatter Me Trilogy by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Ignite Me)

The Shatter Me trilogy was a great trilogy that I recommend to people. It is very character driven and written very beautifully and poetic. I think that the series gets better as you continue. Please read at your own risk and caution for spoilers.

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages: 338


I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.


My Rating:
✰✰✰✰

I really enjoyed Shatter Me and read it pretty quickly. The writing was so unique and different and I didn't want to put this book down.

I'm not sure if it was because I was just reading it fast, but at some parts the plot seemed to be fairly quick and I felt that some scenes could've been extended. I didn't think there was much plot to this book; I was waiting for something big to happen, but nothing crazy happened.

Before reading this, I already knew that there was going to be a love triangle with Adam and Warner. I didn't fall for either of them immediately, but I did end up liking Warner better because he felt more real to me. Adam seemed like a typical YA male charming character where Warner seemed to have a lot of depth to him. I did not like how Warner really "wanted" Juliette more than he liked her. But I did like it when they bickered. Warner didn't seem evil, but he did evil things. I think his strong want for power only makes him a more complex character. 

I like Kenji. I am very curious as to how Warner and Adam can touch her. I'm not a fan of how many times it's stated that Juliette is pretty and all, but she hasn't even looked at herself in the mirror of a while. I think the "I love you." came a little too early from him.

I didn't feel like I knew Juliette that well, but hopefully I'll grow more connections to her in the next two books. But I did like that her voice was different and unlike anything I've heard.

Once again, the writing was so different and poetic and had many similes, metaphors and just used figurative language a lot. I liked the strike throughs and the repetitions that's in Juliette's head. 

I actually ended up more interested in this dystopian world than I thought I would. Although it seems pretty typical with the whole Movement and the government being bad and all,(isn't that what a dystopia is?)  I really liked the concept of the special people with powers. 

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy and hopefully I'll get to know the characters more. 

Title: Unravel Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages: 461

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰1/2

Before reading this, I read Destroy Me which is the novella that is after Shatter Me and before Unravel Me. I do recommend reading that first, and then reading this.

About half way through the book, things really did pick up and I couldn't stop reading. This book picks up right after Shatter Me and throughout this book we learn more about Omega Point and their movement.

Learning about the different powers and the energy harnessed in the people were cool. For some reason, I really liked Castle's character. I think it has to deal with the fact that he stayed consistent throughout the book. I also loved his relationship with Kenji.

And Kenji was awesome. He was so hilarious and awesome and his comments instantly lighted up the mood. One of my favorite parts in the book was when Juliette told him to lower his voice and he said, "Because if I lower my voice, I won't be able to hear myself speak. And that, is my favorite part."
Tahereh actually stole this quote from her brother which I found hilarious.

I've always liked Warner's character more than I did Adams. When Juliette realized that Warner and Adam both could touch her, I instantly had a feeling that they were brothers. It wasn't until it was actually stated in the book that I knew for sure. Warner's character is just more complex than Adam's. Adam did seem a little pouty at times just because he couldn't be with Juliette. I honestly think that Juliette didn't like Adam that much since she was willing to give him up. It made sense, because she didn't want to harm him, but she belongs with Warner.

I laughed out loud when it was revealed that Warner's first name is Aaron. For some reason, that seemed hilarious to me. The part where Juliette and Warner are talking and he says that he loves it when she says her name is one of my favorites.

When Warner and Juliette was having their moment, and she just thinks of Adam. That made me really upset and I just wanted her to stop liking him so much,

Anderson was so awful and cruel, and I really wanted him to die.

The action and fighting parts actually scared me because I  didn't want anyone from Omega Point to die.
This book has many quoteable things and the writing was lovely as always.

Title: Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages: 409

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰✰


Just saying that I am #TeamKenji

Finishing the trilogy really made me sad. This series of books was great and I will really miss the characters. Speaking of characters, can we take about the development?!?

This is mainly for Juliette, although many of the characters went through changes. But Juliette has changed and grown so much from the first book, it's crazy. Thinking about how timid she was in the first book, really made me notice how strong she has gotten. When she was looking for Anderson, she was such a bad a. Punching through floors, pushing soldiers off, kicking doors down. her determination was great.


I was so insanely happy when she finally told Warner about her feelings. I was also so happy that she finally learned to control her powers. It just felt so satisfying, knowing that she can do all of these things, and not just hurt people.




I love Warner so much, and part of the reason for it is that he is not perfect. His character is so honest and clever and quirky. In this book, you really do get to see the truth behind why he wanted Juliette in the first place. Also, he really took the whole brother situation in a good way. 



I freaking love Kenji and wish that he was my friend. His and Juliette's relationship was so important and it was so nice seeing them support each other. His remarks and jokes really made the book great.

I'm not sure what to say about Adam. In this book, he didn't seem that significant to me. I think that he argued too much and always left the scene, slamming the door.


I did wish the ending was a little bit longer. It seemed quick when Juliette killed Anderson and the war was just over. I really do want an epilogue. Ignite Me is my favorite of the three books. This book has made this series one that I would recommend to people.

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Title: Faking Normal
Author: Courtney C. Stevens
Pages: 336


Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.


My Rating:
✰✰✰✰

At first, I had a little trouble getting into this book. After reading the synopsis, I still didn't really know what this book would be about. Still, I do think that it doesn't really says too much on what the book is mainly about.

One of the reasons I really liked this book was because of the message it gave. I will talk about this more in the spoiler part of this review.

I  liked the characters and the writing. The writing was very easy to read and the all the characters were easy to distinguish. 

After about half way into the book, I started to really enjoy it. I would recommend it, but it does have a more serious tone.

More Points (May Contain Spoilers)

I loved how Alexia and Bodee were there for each other. I really loved their supporting relationship and how it didn't become a romantic one at first. They were both similar in the way that they had their own method of dealing with pain. (Scratching her neck and counting, doing pull up under his bed.)

Bodee was such a great character. He was so solid and always there and had awesome hair. I really felt bad for him and thought that it was crazy how his dad choke his mom to death. I really could picture it when Alexia went back into his house and saw the crime scene.


I always had a feeling that Bodee was Captain Lyric. I didn't really believe that Hayden was him. But I did not really like the whole idea of someone leaving lyrics for her. I felt like it didn't really serve a purpose and was just a subplot. I think that that was my main problem with this book, there was many things that just felt unnecessary.
 
As far as all of the characters go, they were all good and played a great role in the story.  I did think that Ray and Liz didn't do much for the story. Alexia's friends were okay.

I did not know that Craig was the one that had assaulted her, and I was very glad when he left.