Also Known As by Robin Benway

Summary:
Which is more dangerous: being an international spy... or surviving high school?

Maggie Silver has never minded her unusual life. Cracking safes for the world's premier spy organization and traveling the world with her insanely cool parents definitely beat high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. (If it's three digits, why bother locking it at all?)

But when Maggie and her parents are sent to New York City for her first solo assignment, her world is transformed. Suddenly, she's attending a private school with hundreds of "mean girl" wannabes, trying to avoid the temptation to hack the school's elementary security system, and working to befriend the aggravatingly cute son of a potential national security threat... all while trying not to blow her cover.

From the hilarious and poignant author of Audrey, Wait! comes a fast-paced caper that proves that even the world's greatest spies don't have a mission plan for love. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I thought this was adorable and had no idea it's by the same author that wrote Audrey, Wait!. The two books are similar in that the protagonist is very funny and snarky, but they're are definitely a lot different.

This book reminded me of Ally Carter's version of a teenage spy, but I think I liked AKA better. I liked seeing Maggie out in the field actually using her skills and handling assignments. The fact that she has to spy on a cute boy that she may or may not have a crush on was hilarious and awesome.

This book was just a super fun read, even if Maggie and Jesse fall in love a little too quickly for my taste. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2013/Walker Books/318 pages

Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita

Summary:
Harper Mcallister is a sweet but spoiled freshly minted rich girl whose dad decides she needs a shot of reality. His plan: send her to his childhood sleepaway camp, Whispering Pines. Ziplines, mud, bugs, and bears are not Harper's thing and she'll hilarious have to navigate that world without her iPhone or beloved Twitter account. Can she hack it with the help of some former "Sleepaway Girls"? (from Goodreads)

Review:
Sleepaway Girls is one of my favorite books. Not because it's a literary masterpiece but because it has great characters and a wonderful setting. It's such a "summer" book that I reread it every year around this time because I love immersing myself in Camp Whispering Pines. When I discovered that Jen Calonita was writing another book set at Whispering Pines I was ecstatic. While I didn't like Summer State of Mind as much as I hoped, it's still a cute novel.

My biggest problem with this book is that it reads really young, almost MG. The characters are 15, the same age as those in Sleepaway Girls, but they seemed so much younger. Part of that is probably due to the fact that the girls in SG are all CITs and have some level of responsibility at the camp. The characters in SSoM are still campers so they don't have to be as mature as their counterparts. Even so, Harper is tough to root for in the beginning; she's extremely materialistic and a little snobby. Luckily, her time at camp changes her for the better!

I wish we got more time with the original "sleepaway girls" even though this novel is only supposed to be a companion to the original. The exploits of Sam and her crew as counselors would have been so much fun to read about and I wish we got that instead! So while I'm grateful for another visit to Whispering Pines, I definitely like the original better.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: personal copy

2014/Poppy/256 pages.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Summary:
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I was really excited to read Panic because I love Lauren Oliver and it was marketed as a Hunger Games-esque novel. Though it wasn't science fiction (which I was expecting) I still really enjoyed Panic.

This novel details what the Hunger Games would be like if it was present day and organized by high schoolers. I thought the concept was fascinating and pretty ingenious. The challenges are extremely dangerous and I'd probably never participate, but I can see why teenagers would do it: the prize is $67,000! I thought the tasks were pretty clever if not totally stupid and life-threatening. I still can't believe that the adults/police could never figure out what was going on with Panic, even after participants and bystanders are paralyzed, injured and even killed. If this was the real-world, the police would have figured it out immediately, especially in such a small town. Either way, I was able to suspend my disbelief and still enjoy the story.

I liked the dual perspectives of Heather and Dodge but for some reason couldn't stand reading them in third person point-of-view. Most of the time I don't care about first or third person and couldn't even tell you what I was reading because I don't pay attention to it. But in Panic I did not like the third person - it should have been written in first. I also liked that the romance was unexpected and not clichéd as usual. Heather and Dodge could have benefitted from more character development though. I also thought the last challenge, the Joust, wasn't as exciting as it could have been.

Those are just my nitpickings, but I actually really liked this book and thought the concept was really cool. I can't wait to see what Lauren Oliver writes next.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2014/HarperCollins/408 pages.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Summary:
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I absolutely adore Leila Sales's first two novels, Mostly Good Girls and Past Perfect, so of course I was beyond excited for her latest book. I was slightly disappointed that I didn't enjoy This Song Will Save Your Life as much as I hoped, but it was still a fun read.

I don't expect every book by a favorite author to be stellar because that's just unrealistic. I am a little disappointed that I didn't love this novel as much as the others but I'm ultimately I'm okay with that. This book wasn't quite as funny as Sales's previous books. There are still some humorous moments but that laugh out loud humor is definitely missing. I think that's due to the fact that TSWSYL is definitely more serious. In the beginning of the book, Elise is suicidal and the majority of the story is her overcoming those feelings. I think Sales did a great job of describing Elise's mentality without making it too light or too depressing. The book struck a good balance in my opinion.

While not the focus, TSWSYL deals with bullying and I think it struggles with that aspect. Sometimes it seems like Elise is just supposed to be ignored by her classmates and others I think Sales tries too hard to make it seem like they all hate her (of which there is no reason too). And since it's not the focus, it just pops up randomly in the plot. Elise talks about how she wants to be popular and tries to dress and act so that she can attain this goal. I do like that the story is about finding yourself and doing what you love, regardless of what other people think. That's a very positive message.

I definitely enjoyed reading about the dance club Start and Elise's foray into DJing. I love music so I liked hearing those references and having a playlist at the end of the novel. I'll definitely be checking those out. Elise is a natural talent at DJing but also a bit of a wunderkind. She takes it up and within two weeks she is the hottest thing around which is definitely unrealistic. Elise describes herself as precocious but at times she's more pretentious: she judges her equally unpopular friends and also goes on a rant about the stupidity of pop music. I think it would have been awesome character development for her to recognize that she participates in some of the same actions that she blasts her classmates for doing and tries to change that. 

Overall, I found This Song Will Save Your Life to be a fun and light-hearted read. I recommend readers to check this out but not to overlook Sales's previous work which is even better.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: library

2013/Farrar, Straus & Giroux/279 pages

Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook

Summary:
Friendship is a bond stronger than secrets in this novel from the author of The Almost Truth and Unraveling Isobel.

As first graders, Avery and Nora bonded over a special trait they shared; they were both adopted.

Years later, Avery is smart, popular, and on the cheerleading squad, while Nora spends her time on the fringes of school society, wearing black, reading esoteric poetry, and listening to obscure music. They never interact...until the night Nora approaches Avery at a party, saying it's urgent. She tells Avery that she thought she found her birth mom but it turned out to be a cruel lie. Avery feels for Nora, but returns to her friends at the party.

Then Avery learns that Nora overdosed on pills. Left to cope with Nora's loss and questioning her own actions, Avery decides to honor her friend by launching a search for her own birth mother. Aided by Brody, a friend of Nora's who is also looking for a way to respect Nora's legacy, Avery embarks on an emotional quest. But what she's really seeking might go far deeper than just genetics. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I loved the premise of this book and when it was on Pulse It, I jumped at the chance to read it. I'm so glad I did because Year of Mistaken Discoveries was a great read.

I've never read anything by Eileen Cook before but she's a wonderful writer. I'm definitely going to check out her other books. She has this way of writing with such a genuine voice. There are obviously sad parts in this book and they were handled so well; she's able to incorporate all these different emotions into Avery and it really works.

I loved the idea of looking for birth parents because I think that's something a lot of people who were adopted struggle with. Everyone wants to know where they came from and why they were given up for adoption so Avery's quest makes perfect sense. What happened to Nora was awful but I almost wish more time was spent on that, on how she was being conned. That was such an interesting subplot. But the story is ultimately about Avery and how she reacts to these events.

I really loved the character of Brody. He and Avery clicked right away and it was so funny watching them joke around and tease each other. It was a great relationship and that didn't develop too quickly. My only qualm with Year of Mistaken Discoveries that Avery is quite the detective and I don't think the process would have been quite that easy. But that's a really small negative and I definitely think the majority of people will like this book.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: read on Pulse It
Release Date: February 25, 2014

2014/Simon Pulse/272 pages.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Summary:
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.(from GoodReads)

Review:
So this book was really interesting. The two main characters, Noah and Echo, had a lot going on in their lives, least of all the romance between them. I enjoyed the novel for the most part even though there were things I didn't like.

Let's start with the good. I thought Noah's and Echo's situations were really unique and interesting to read about. Noah is in foster care because his parents died in a house fire. He has two young brothers living with a different family and his goal throughout the book is to get custody of them. Echo's story is just as tragic as Noah's: her brother is killed in Afghanistan and then your mother (who has bipolar disorder) tries to kill her. She remembers nothing about the night, except for the fact that she was left with scars on her wrists and horrible night terrors.

Echo has repressed the memories of that fateful night and will do anything to remember. Honestly, she has a lot of the details and if I were her I wouldn't want to know. I was also skeptical of how her mother's bipolar disorder was characterized. There's this perception that people who are mentally ill are also violent and it's really a small percentage of them that are. I don't know how fair it was to give the mother this disorder because it really gives bipolar disorder a bad name (not that it has a good name per se but still).

Noah is equally determined to obtain information but this time it's about his brothers. He's obsessed that their foster parents are hurting them even though there is minimal evidence to suggest that (besides them being a bit rude). He wants to raise his brothers which is admirable, but naïve. Even so, I absolutely loved how much Noah adores his brothers and I really like the way his story turned out.

Other things I didn't like: Grace, Echo's "friend." I put that in quotes because she refuses to be seen publicly with Echo because she's trying to maintain her status as a popular girl. But she'll talk to Echo in private sometimes. Echo, drop that girl like a hot potato! I also didn't like how the characters referred to being "in love" just as "in." I'm not kidding, Echo at one point said "I'm not 'in' with him." What does that even mean?!

Besides that, I really did like the ending because you could see Noah and Echo becoming stronger people. Echo is even able to repair the broken relationship she has with her father and stepmother. The book was easy to read and I sped through the pages. Fans of Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry will really like Pushing the Limits.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: sent copy by publisher.

2012/Harlequin Teen/392 pages.
 

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

Summary:
Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy. (from GoodReads)

Review:
This series is one of my absolute favorites and I'm so glad I finally got to read book #3. Perfect Scoundrels did not disappoint in the least!

Even though each book in the Heist Society series features a heist of some sort, spying, surveillance, and just all around subterfuge, each story is unique and I could read them all day. This book is a little different because this time Hale is the mark instead of being the con artist. That makes it a lot harder for Kat and her merry band because the stakes are much higher. Hale is much less cooperative in Perfect Scoundrels because his grandmother just died and he doesn't want to see that anything is wrong. He comes around eventually but these events definitely put a strain on Hale's and Kat's relationship.

I don't have much to say about this book because I enjoyed it so much. It looks like there will be a 4th book (it's on GoodReads) and I really hope that's the case! I can't get over how clever and smart Perfect Scoundrels and the rest of this series is!

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: Christmas gift

2013/Hyperion/328 pages.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Summary:
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge.  If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be. (from GoodReads)

Review:Wow! This novel was so crazy. It was difficult to read because of the content, but at the same time I couldn't put it down. Some Girls Are makes you look at high school a lot differently.

Some Girls Are details bullying in one of its most extreme forms. The popular crowd, known as the "Fearsome Fivesome," engages in humiliation, isolation, cyber bullying and various types of physical and emotional abuse. This mistreatment isn't just limited to the normal student body: if one of the members has a falling out with the group, they are also subject to this torture. It's truly horrible and you can't help feeling bad for Regina, even though she did the same awful things beforehand.

It's hard for me to comprehend how people are able to go through their day spreading rumors, locking others in supply closets and pushing them into lockers. It takes a lot of time and energy for these wars, not to mention some creative manipulation. Is the average high school girl clever enough for the schemes that Courtney Summers outlines? I'm not quite sure. Also, how prevalent is this type of bullying? I must have had an exceptionally good high school because none of this ever happened. I'm not saying there wasn't bullying, but these all-out offensives against one person in which most of the school either participates or knows about? That didn't happen. Most of the bullying I saw was people being left out or teasing. Maybe I was just naïve.

Even though most of the characters acted like sociopaths, Some Girls Are is very engaging. You want to see Regina win and watch how her relationship with Michael develops. There were some interesting twists that will keep you on your toes. Unfortunately, the book kind of just ends. I wish there was more resolution than what we got. I liked the book, but obviously didn't at the same since I'm not really a fan of seeing people be constantly bullied.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2010/St. Martin's Griffin/246 pages

Operation Oleander by Valerie O. Patterson

Summary:
Ninth-grader Jess Westmark had the best of intentions when she started Operation Oleander to raise money for a girls’ orphanage in Kabul. She named her charity for the oleander that grows both in her Florida hometown and in Afghanistan, where her father is deployed. But on one of her father's trips to deliver supplies to the orphans, a car bomb explodes nearby and her father is gravely injured. Worse, her best friend’s mother and some of the children are killed, and people are blaming Operation Oleander for turning the orphanage into a military target for the Taliban. Is this all Jess’s fault? (from GoodReads)

Review:
I think that Operation Oleander would be a great book for middle school readers. I liked it well enough but it's definitely for younger readers and has important themes that would make it a good pick for summer reading.

The heart and main theme of this novel is about guilt and the responsibility we have for things that happen after our actions take place. Operation Oleander makes it clear that sometimes having good intentions isn't enough to stop bad things from happening. Jess gets a major wake up call in this book when her charity causes US soldiers to die delivering school supplies to an Afghan orphanage. That's a pretty dramatic event to showcase the focus of the book but it demonstrates that actions can have dire consequences. I understand why people wanted to blame Jess for the tragedy; sometimes it's easier to blame someone than accept the fact that bad things happen for no reason. However, it would have been really easy to blame the Taliban, since they were the ones directly responsible for the attack.

I felt really bad for Jess because honestly it wasn't her fault that the soldiers died but everyone gave her a hard time anyway. The only time she annoyed me was when she initially refused to stop the charity (even for the time being). She acted really immature, especially when the commander of the entire military base asked her to stop collecting items out of respect for the family members of the deceased. The fact that she was even arguing was bizarre; it was like she couldn't understand that people might not want to be reminded of what happened. Maybe her reaction was due to grief (her father was injured in the attack) but it was not something I would have done.

Operation Oleander was fairly short but it definitely had an important message about choices and consequences. Any future teachers out there will definitely want this on their required reading list.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Clarion Books192 pages.

Heart Beat by Elizabeth Scott

Summary:
Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love? (from GoodReads)

Review:
I think that Elizabeth Scott is a fantastic author and writes great YA contemporary novels. So I'm super disappointed that I did not enjoy Heart Beat as much as her earlier books.

I don't know what it is, but I have not been feeling the latest Elizabeth Scott books. Her earlier ones were amazing! I kind of think that I'm not enjoying the heavy topics, such as PTSD, trauma, and death that have been commonplace in her novels. What can I say, I like the light and happy books.

Heart Beat deals with Emma and her mother who is brain-dead. The central conflict comes from the fact that Emma is angry with her step-father for keeping her mother on life support in order to bring her baby to term. She's upset that Dan did not consult her first before making the decision and is convinced it's the decision her mom would not have wanted. This situation is super gray and I'm sure everyone has their own opinions. It's kind of messed up that they are practically using the mom as an incubator for this baby. It reminds me of the fact that women are sometimes treated as vessels for carrying fetuses, but that's a whole other discussion. At the same time, if there's already a baby growing, why not try to see if it can make it to term? It's a tough situation and kind of interesting to see it addressed in this book!

My problem wasn't that they were having a debate, but it was the fact that it is rehashed multiple times throughout Heart Beat. Every time Emma and Dan are on-page together, this argument is brought up again and again. I must have read Emma making the same points about 5 or 6 times before any progress is made in the argument and they can come to a resolution. Many times I just wanted Emma to move on and talk about something else!

I was also disappointed in both the character and plot development of this novel. Emma didn't really change that much except she wasn't as annoying at the end. We still don't know much about Caleb, though I did like what little I read. Nothing significant happens in terms of plot since most of it is Emma spending time with Caleb or yelling at her step-father.

Honestly, I did not like Heart Beat at all and am going to comfort myself by reading some earlier books by Elizabeth Scott!

Release Date: January 24, 2014
Rating: 5 out of 10.
FTC: received copy from LitPick

2014/Harlequin Teen/304 pages.

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Summary:
Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you want to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between. (from GoodReads)

Review:
There was a lot going on in Not That Kind of Girl and a lot of messages were presented. Events and relationships weren't always developed properly, but this book was a real page turner. I couldn't put it down!

Natalie is a pretty awesome character. She's strong, smart and hard-working. She wants to be class president and believes in female empowerment. I loved that about her. She doesn't like that many girls at her private school are boy-crazy and she's seen how boys can hurt girls. However, Natalie's worldview is damaged (shattered is too strong a word) when she starts having feelings for Connor, even after she vowed to live a boy-free life.

What I really liked about this book was the author's opposing feminist messages. There's some people (this includes Natalie) that think women shouldn't be concerned with romance, should dress appropriately and not let men rule their feelings. Then there's the camp that touts sex positivity, that women should be able to own their sexuality and wear whatever they want, no matter how revealing. There is a bit of a push and pull between these two groups in real life and that was evident in this book. Natalie is the former, and the majority of the girls in her school are the latter. So Natalie has to learn (via her relationship with Connor) that it's okay to explore your sexuality and it doesn't make you less deserving of respect or dignity. That's an important message that many girls and boys don't receive.

The only problem I had with Not That Kind of Girl was the relationship between Natalie and Connor. I liked Connor a lot, but hooking up was the extent of their interaction. They didn't talk that much and their relationship was pretty undeveloped. I would like to see the reasons why she's in love with him. That part got lost in the myriad of subplots present in this book.

Overall I really couldn't put this book down. It has some great messages and explores different feminist ideologies in an easy to digest format. It's a great and enlightening read.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2010/Push/322 pages.

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Summary:
Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.

Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began....

When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn’t know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren’t fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he’d thought. . . .

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents that happen—and the happiness we can find when the two intersect.  (from GoodReads)

Review:
Just One Day was one of the best books I read last year. I loved it so much and I could not wait to read the companion novel. While I enjoyed Just One Year, I was also disappointed with the direction of the story.

What I was expecting (and hoping) was for a continuation of Just One Day so I could find out what happens between Willem and Lulu. The first book ends on a cliffhanger, which is why I was so excited to read the sequel. However, Just One Year begins right after Lulu's and Willem's day together and the timeline is pretty much the same as the second half of Just One Day. Needless to say, I was very disappointed that we didn't get any new scenes with Lulu and Willem! The book is pretty much Willem trying to find Lulu and his journey of self-discovery. There is still plenty of travelling for the worldly readers, but I didn't get what I was looking for.

I really hope that Gayle Forman writes another book with Lulu and Willem together because that's what I want to read!

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Dutton Children's/336 pages

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Summary:
Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I thought that What Happened to Goodbye was really cute! Not my favorite Dessen book by any means, but a good read nonetheless.

It's hard not to compare this novel to The Moon and More because I read them almost one after the other. I definitely liked The Moon and More because I just wanted to live in Colby with Emaline and her crazy family. This book was slightly different because it takes place during the school year (most of Dessen's novels are set during the summer). It's really funny because Mclean does go to Colby and North Reddemine and some other locations that are featured in TM&M. I love how old characters pop up unexpectantly - like Jason who's a minor character in What Happened to Goodbye was also in The Truth About Forever.

I thought the restaurant aspect of this novel was the best part. I love the hustle and bustle and seeing Mclean and her dad try to save a failing business was really interesting. There's a great cast of characters, like Opal, Deb and Dave who add a lot of life and spark to What Happened to Goodbye.

The things that need improvement: I wish Mclean had a stronger voice. She was the typical narrator but was kind of bland. I think that's because she's so used to trying on these different personas and names that she didn't have an original personality. Also the romance between Dave and Mclean was pretty lackluster. He's an awesome character but definitely seemed more like a friend than lover.

The relationship between Mclean and her mom was definitely compelling. There's a lot of tension there in the beginning because Mclean blames her mom for her parents' divorce. Her mom did cheat on her dad... As someone with divorced parents, I could definitely understand Mclean's perspective. It was nice to see her and mom get a little closer though.

Not my favorite Dessen book but not my least favorite either. It's a great read regardless though.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library

2011/Viking Juvenile/402 pages.

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Summary:
When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars).

The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I thought that Going Vintage had a really cute premise and for the most part was a light and fun novel. I definitely enjoyed it, though there were definitely things I didn't like.

I thought the theme of "vintage" was adorable and especially appropriate because Mallory's father deals with antiques. Old things are cool, so I definitely understood Mallory's fascination with the early 60s. There were some good messages about the Internet and how things can go wrong when you're online. I think it's good that everyone take some time away from their cell phones and technology. There's no need to be connected 24/7 and I think Mallory learned that valuable lesson.

I really liked Oliver as a love interest; he was a great character and good for Mallory. I liked how the ending was not super traditional and that Mallory sees he value in being single, especially just after breaking up with a long-time boyfriend.

The one part I didn't like was the break-up between Mallory and her boyfriend Jeremy. He's obsessed with the online game Second Life, in which you pretty much live another life on the computer. Mallory accidently finds emails between Jeremy and his online "wife" who lives states away. Instead of having a discussion about this (which would have been super interesting - emotional vs. physical cheating is kind of a gray area for some people) she runs out of his house, refuses to talk with him and breaks up with him on a social networking site. I actually felt pretty bad for Jeremy because I don't think he knew what was going on at first. He obviously wasn't the greatest boyfriend but I think he at least deserved an explanation of how it's not okay to get emotionally and romantically attached to someone who isn't your girlfriend. That first scene kind of showed me Mallory's maturity level.

Other than my nitpicking I still enjoyed the book. There's a lot going on - Mallory has two parents, a sister, grandmother and friends who all get their own storylines - but it was a fun ride. There were some legitimately funny parts too.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Bloomsbury/320 pages.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Summary:
Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I haven't read a Sarah Dessen novel in such a long time (over 4 years) and I forgot how much I enjoy her books! For some reason I just sucked right into The Moon and More and couldn't put it down.

What I loved most about this book is that I wanted to live in it. The small beach town of Colby is very appealing. I love the beach in general and the tight-knit community just seems like a nice way to live. The way Dessen describes it, it's like a real place. Colby as been featured in a few other of her books (Keeping the Moon and Along for the Ride) and some of the characters in those books make small appearances! But I felt like Colby was actually a character in The Moon and More because there's the theme of small town vs. city life and the differences between them.

I also loved loved loved Emaline's family. She works for her grandmother's realty company so she spends a lot of time with them and I could see the love between them all (even though they could be super annoying). Seeing Emaline develop a relationship with her real father and half-brother was one of the best parts of the book. This novel really drives home the idea that there are all different types of family (Emaline has a "father" and a "dad" for goodness sake).

The romance was probably the weakest part of the novel and I think that was the point. In the beginning Emaline is dating her long-time boyfriend Luke but then moves on to the new Theo, who is from New York City and is supposed to be very sophisticated. Let me just say this: I did not like Theo at all, and I'm pretty sure the readers weren't supposed to. He's definitely not as sophisticated as described and quite frankly he's pretty annoying as a character. Even so, it was nice seeing a non-traditional love story featured in YA.

This book made me super nostalgic for summer and the beach, especially as it's snowing outside right now. I also loved that Emaline was going to East University for college. Pretty sure Dessen is referring to East Carolina University since the book takes place in North Carolina. Two of my uncles went there which is why I'm familiar with it. In addition, Emaline gets some flak for not going to Columbia. She got a full ride to a decent school (East) and a person would be crazy not to take that. Good job Emaline. Anyway, this is definitely one of my favorite Dessen books, which means you should go read it.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Viking Juvenile/435 pages.

Hooked by Liz Fichera

Summary:
When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile... (from GoodReads)

Review:I really loved the concept of Hooked. It featured things you don't usually see in YA: golf and Native Americans. I loved having a WOC as our protagonist and learning more about the sport of golf. This combination (along with the romance) got me hooked on Hooked.

It's easy to dive right into this novel because the character's voices are so well-written. The narration switches between Fred and Ryan, so we get both of their perspectives which are pretty different, especially at the beginning. It's easy to root for Fred and hard to like Ryan, but that changes as the book progresses. I loved seeing Ryan's character development and how he became a better person. I just wish Ryan and Fred's lovely relationship had developed that much too. They fell in love pretty quickly and I would have liked to see them be friends longer before they the romance angle was added in.

The author appears to making this a series because the sequel is about Fred's friend Sam and Ryan's younger sister. I'm not sure if I'm going to check it out yet but I would like to see how Fred and Ryan are doing in the future.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: received from publisher

2013/Harlequin Teen/363 pages.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Summary:
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. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I love London so of course I'm going to pick up a book that is set here! Plus, romance and cute boys? Sign me up! I thought Meant to Be was a cute and fun story that anyone can enjoy.

Obviously I was first drawn in by the wonderful city of London. Since I've been there before, it was nice to revisit all the famous landmarks and tourist attractions that I saw. I would love to go back and I did for a time while reading Meant to Be.

Julia is an interesting protagonist, in that she's not the most likeable. She gets better in the end, but throughout the book she is set on finding her "meant to be" aka her soulmate. Julia uses her parents' supposedly perfect marriage as her guide to finding a boyfriend. This is problematic since her father died when she was about eight, so the memories of her family are definitely colored. Luckily she learns that no relationship or person is perfect and that will help her in the long-run.

Even though Jason could be pretty immature, I still enjoyed reading about him and seeing his and Julia's relationship develop. In the beginning they hated each other, but London brings them together. I was flying through the pages to see what would happen next.

Some of the aspects were a tad unrealistic. The students had way too many "cultural hours" (aka free time) on this trip and they each had their own hotel rooms! It is explained that their teacher knows the owner of this hotel but still. I loved that Julia is a swimmer (as am I) but would someone who won States in two events really go on a trip in the middle of her swim season (even though most swim seasons are finished by Spring Break, which is when this trip takes place)? I'm obviously nitpicking, but those were some things I was thinking about while reading.

Regardless, I still really enjoyed Meant to Be. The romance is cute, London is awesome and there's even some life lessons thrown in there. If you're looking for something light, make sure you check this out.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/Delacorte/304 pages.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Summary:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I seriously can't believe that I waited this long to read The Fault in Our Stars. I wanted to borrow it from the library but it has been on hold or out since it was released. I eventually saw a copy of the novel on my friend's bookshelf and she reluctantly let me borrow it. This is definitely my favorite John Green book, which is really saying something because he's an awesome author.

The story is destined to be depressing. That's what happens when your main character has terminal cancer. Though it's not terminal in the sense that "oh I have a year to live." It's more of the fact that Hazel knows she will eventually die from cancer, but the doctors aren't really sure when. Now that her disease is slightly stabilized, Hazel is able to go to classes at the community college and attend a cancer support group. Which is where she meets Augustus! He is such an awesome character and definitely one of those John Green signature personalities. The relationship between Hazel and Augustus is so, so sweet, especially since he understands her due to him having cancer at one point too.

There were other interesting and important characters as well. I loved Hazel's parents, who were so supportive and loving. Augustus's friend Isaac was hilarious. The author of their favorite (fake) novel makes an appearance and is a little rough around the edges but ultimately a good guy.

I just want to warn those who haven't read the book (which is probably no one at this point): you will cry. I predicted the ending but it didn't make it any less sad! This is going to be even harder to watch on-screen, when it's made into a movie.

I really enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars now that I've finally read it. I think I devoured it in about a day - I just could not put it down. I would probably consider this my favorite John Green novel and I hope that whatever he writes next can top this novel.

Rating: 10 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from a friend.

2012/Dutton Books/313 pages.

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Summary:Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about. (from GoodReads)

Review:
So I read The Distance Between Us in less than a day... That's how fast it sucked me in and I couldn't stop reading! This book is such a fun read so don't start reading it unless you have a few hours to devote to finishing the novel.

First off, I want to comment on the protagonist's name. Caymen has the same name as the Cayman Islands, a popular tax haven for the extremely rich. Interesting or ironic? Especially since wealth is a such a big part of the novel.

I did enjoy the theme of rich vs. poor and how money can affect a relationship. Normally I think these types of conflict are contrived but Xander wasn't merely well-off ... his family owns a chain of hotels and he's regularly featured in tabloid magazines. He's one of the business celebrities so I could see how that might cause problems in a relationship. Also, Caymen isn't even middle-class; her mom is the owner of a failing small business. They can't afford to hire any employees besides Caymen and her mom.

I loved seeing Caymen try to navigate her relationship with Xander. She had to deal with pressures from her mom (who doesn't like rich people), supposed pressures from Xander's friends and family and another potential love interest. But I think she handled it wonderfully and I'm happy to say that mostly everything worked out in the end.

The think the strongest point of The Distance Between Us is the likeability of all the characters. Caymen was awesome and her sarcasm was hilarious. Kasie West is very witty! Xander was amazing and will surely top some lists of favorite romantic interest in YA books. He wasn't perfect but that just made him even more interesting. Caymen's friends Skye and Henry were nice additions to the cast and I enjoyed it when they shared scenes with our illustrious protagonist.

Overall, The Distance Between Us is a fun, flirty romance novel. I can't wait to see what Kasie West comes out with next!

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

Summary:Promise. Betrayal. Confession. Revenge. Tabitha and her four best friends all wear purity rings, symbols of the virginity-until-marriage pledge they made years ago. Now Tab is fifteen, and her ring has come to mean so much more. It’s a symbol of who she is and what she believes—a reminder of her promises to herself, and her bond to her friends. But when Tab meets a boy whose kisses make her knees go weak, everything suddenly seems a lot more complicated. Tab’s best friend, Morgan, is far from supportive, and for the first time, Tabitha is forced to keep secrets from the one person with whom she’s always shared everything. When one of those secrets breaks to the surface, Tab finds herself at the center of an unthinkable betrayal that splits her friends apart. As Tab’s entire world comes crashing down around her, she’s forced to re-examine her friendships, her faith, and what exactly it means to be pure. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I think that the author had really good intentions when writing Pure, but some of them got jumbled in the overall story, which has a messy plot at times. I enjoyed the book, but it definitely has its flaws.

Good things about Pure: after the beginning, I was able to get really involved in the story! I wanted to see what would happen between Tabitha and her new boyfriend and how the conflict between her and her friends would be resolved. I was looking forward to seeing Tabitha examine her own vow and seeing her come to terms with her friend Cara's decision was great. Tabitha was definitely one of the more mature characters in the book and I loved how she stood by her friend when everyone else dropped her. Also, Tabitha's boyfriend seemed like a genuinely sweet guy and she was lucky to have him.

Like I said, I enjoyed the overall story but there were definitely things that were problematic in Pure. First, the summary is pretty misleading. Using words like "betrayal" and "revenge" makes it sound like we're in for a thriller and Pure was definitely tamer than I expected. Also I thought there would be moments when Tabitha questioned her own vow to be pure, especially now that she has a boyfriend. That is never brought up, though it should have been! Instead the story focuses on how Cara slept with her boyfriend and how it breaks their group of friends apart.

Tabitha's best friend Morgan was incredibly self-righteous and she is the reason why people can't stand ultra-religious people. She is supposed to be the foil to Tabitha's maturity but she was definitely annoying. In addition, I didn't like how the girls in the novel would use made up words and slang like "gah." I've never heard anyone say that so it's extremely unrealistic.

I mentioned before that the story was jumbled. A lot of sentences were very confusing and it seemed as though a thorough editing job was needed. I skipped a lot of the narration because it was unnecessary. I'm still not sure what the point of the novel was. To stand by your friends? To think for yourself? To be non-judgmental? Those were all preached but the novel is marketed as deciding what "pure" is. I don't think that question was answered.

If you're interested in the concept of purity rings and all that entails then I would recommend Pure but otherwise you might find something else more enjoyable.

Rating: 6 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2009/Simon Pulse/336 pages.