Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

4 stars
Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother on the Jellicoe Road when she was eleven. Taylor struggles with depression and is haunted by questions of her mother. Hannah was the person who found her and she’s the closest person she has to family. Then she goes missing and to top it all off, Jonah Griggs is back in town and he’s the last person she wants to see. I started this book in June and finished it at the beginning on July. It almost took me a month to read Jellicoe Road. I’m trying to be honest here, but it’s hard because I’m not a hundred percent sure how I feel about this book. I loved the writing, but I didn’t always love the story. I always felt confused and suffocated with questions, a lot like Taylor. If that was the feeling Marchetta was going for she nailed it, but I don’t particularly like feeling like I’m drowning so it made parts of this book unbearable and frustrating. I know that so many people praise this book, but I’m disappointed by it. I finished this book months ago and I’m just now reviewing. I still don’t know what to say or how to say it, but I’m tired of it staring at me every time I look at my to-review shelf.


The main female character is Taylor. I never really liked Taylor all that much. She was tough for me to like for a good portion of the novel. I did eventually like her, but looking back I still don’t think she was a remarkable character. She does have a few redeeming qualities and she is easier to like towards the middle of the novel, but I personally thought she was too selfish for a good part of the novel. Her selfishness can be justified, but I can’t be bothered to care.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 7
The main male character is Jonah. I liked Jonah quite a bit. I didn’t swoon completely over him, but there were moments when Jonah had me feeling like I was on character cloud-nine. He was what made the story enjoyable when it hit snags.




Swoon Worthy Scale: 8.5

The Villain-
This cat did it. He’s evil. 


Villain Scale: 0
I did enjoy all the supporting characters. They were all funny and all had qualities that made me like reading about them. Not one character in this story was unnecessary. Santangelo and Raffy were my favorites.


Character Scale: 9

This novel can be frustrating. There’s a mystery and questions upon questions about the past and present. While this story had flaws, I did enjoy it. I just wish I would’ve enjoyed it more. The last 45% (around page 180) is where the story picks up and once you get to that point the book becomes much better and it is hard to put it down.




Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It’s so pretty and different from most covers I usually pick up. It’s way better in person.

Mini Review: Eternal Flame by Alyson Noel

I know, I know what you're thinking. Sarah, you've posted twice already today why are you posting again? Well I just finished reading Eternal Flame, which I had buried in the junk of email from months ago and here's my review of it before I forget to post it.:)



Eternal Flame by Alyson Noel

The Immortals Prequel

3 stars

I'm not sure if I would love the sequel to Evermore if I read it right now, but I don't think I would hate it. I wasn't sure if I would like this little prequel since my tastes in books have changed, but I did enjoy it. Damen isn't amazing in the least, but reading through his POV had me remembering how I fell under his charm when reading Evermore. Once he met Evaline, I found myself falling for the story and wanting just a whole book on their romance. I would probably find this series more interesting if each book was different romance of Ever's reincarnations, but I do plan on continuing the series at some point. This is probably one of the better prequels I've come across.

P.S. You can read this story free here! All you have to do is subscribe to get the story in an email! It's pretty simple. Enjoy and tell me your thoughts in the comments.:D

Mini Review: The Girl in the Converse Shoes by Yaritza Garcia

The Girl in the Converse Shoes by Yaitza Garcia

2 stars

This is a cute little story about a guy who goes to a party and meets a girl with pink converse shoes. It's cute, but way too short. I thought it was like the male Cinderella. Only there was no evil stepsiblings, he was just an awkward, dorky teenager. I didn't really like it a whole lot, but I thought it was cute and quick. Since it was free I don't feel cheated or anything. It would've been nicer if the story was just a few pages longer.


Cover Thoughts: It's a cute cover (just like the book). I really like the Converse.

Cover Wars #6

Welcome to my sixth edition of Cover Wars!

I think I've seen a few other blogs do similar things like this at some point or another, but since I'm too lazy to post a review, here's what I'll post when I have nothing else! But a review will probably becoming on the blog later tonight or tomorrow.:)

A Basic Overview:

What is Covers Wars? Well, for my version of Cover Wars I have two sections. One section is the original cover versus the new cover or paperback vs. hardcover. Then the second section is English/American cover vs. a foreign cover that I've found and have an opinion. I'll showcase each cover and give an opinion. Why I really want to do this is to see people's different opinions on covers. So, please leave your reactions in the comments! That sounds really formal! Just tell me if you like the cover or not or any thoughts at all! I'll get my sister to make a banner for me later on to use it as a header! (She's the creative/ techy one.)

I haven't done this in a few weeks, but I'm back and I also took a small little break from blogging and reviewing. Everything that's been happening on GR has just made me not want to review lately.

Here's the covers that won a few weeks ago!

The Covers That Won:



The Original VS. The New:

 
 Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
I think Eclipse was the best book in the Twilight Saga.
My Thoughts: 
I honestly don't like either cover very much, but if I had to choose one I would choose the original. 


Before I Die by Jenny Downham
The flower cover has been on a winning streak and it's going up against the movie edition.
My Thoughts:
If I look at just the movie cover having not read the book, I would probably pick up a copy because that guy is fine. As someone who has read the book though, the movie doesn't do the character justice. I do want to watch the movie though.

The English (or Winner From Last Week)VS. Foreign Edition:  

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
The Winner from last week (American edition) is up against the Spanish edition this week.
My Thoughts:
I'm conflicted. I love the American cover, but the Spanish one is so pretty and white. I can't decide.


Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
The American cover of one of my favorite contemporaries versus the Indonesian edition.
My Thoughts:
American wins because the guy on the cover is hot and the Indonesian cover is too cliche. I don't like couples holding hands on books.

What are your favorites? Is it both hardcovers or paperbacks? Or do you like foreign editions more than American? Leave your thoughts in the comments!Let the wars begin and may the covers ever be in your favor!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5 stars

By now I’m expecting almost everyone to at least have heard of this book in passing. If you don’t know what it’s about, then here’s a brief summary of the already super short summary. Hazel has a lung problem and has always had cancer for as long as she can remember. She meets Augustus Waters one day at Cancer Kid Support Group and they become friends. Love, sadness, heartbreak, assholes, and a trip Hazel won’t forget happen. I’m not going to lie; I went to this book scared out of my mind that I wouldn’t love it. TFiOS is so insanely popular. I see quotes all over tumblr, instagram, people I don’t like randomly quote things to sound cool, and all my awesome blogger/ reviewer friends seem to have either liked or loved it. It’s a popular book and I was afraid that I would absolutely hate it. This is my first Green novel so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I fell in love with this book the way you fall asleep slowly and then all at once. (Yes, I totally just took a quote from the book and turned into part of my review.) While that statement is cheesy (and also one of my favorite quotes) it’s exactly how my experience went with this book. My love for TFiOS was slow and gradual and then BAM! I became obsessed and went from reading a few chapters at a time to reading the whole book. You know how you come across books where they are just so overhyped and you don’t expect to like it or even read it. I knew I would read it, but I didn’t think I would become one of the crazy fangirls of the book that go around sputtering quotes like a bumbling fool when I had nothing else to talk about or say. Green has turned me into a monster and while it’s not my favorite cancer book *gasps* it’s my favorite cancer love story.



The main female character is Hazel or Hazel Grace as she is referred to by Augustus for most of the novel. I love Hazel; she’s one of my favorite characters I’ve come across in YA. She’s honest, cynical, sarcastic, and brilliant. There’s so much I want to say but don’t know if I can because if I talk about who she is as person then I just give away the beauty of this book.



Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 9.5

The main male character is Augustus. I’m in love with Augustus Waters and if he isn’t done to perfection in the movie I will personally march up to the projection room and break the film. He’s absolutely perfect and I love him so much it hurts.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 10The Villain- 



I mean do I really have to spell out who the villain of this story is it should be awfully obvious considering what this book is about.

Villain Scale: cries a thousand tears into a river

Peter van Houten is Hazel’s favorite author and later on Augustus. He is an a-hole, but while I hated him I cried for him when I heard his story and why he wrote An Imperil Affliction. I adore Isaac, Augustus’s best friend and later Hazel’s friend, he was funny and while I didn’t love him I did adore him. I also really liked how Hazel’s parents weren’t some sort of entity that’s just mentioned, they are really there and present especially Hazel’s mom. Augustus’s parents are present as well, but not as impactful in the novel. These characters are all just lovely.


Character Scale: 9



I personally am obsessed with this novel and can’t recommend it enough. This is a terrible review because all I want to do is fangirl and gush. Just read it, okay? I promise that’ll be worth it. You may not love it as much as I do, but one thing will stick out and make you adore at least one scene or person. Green, you have created a fan out of me and I will read anything you write (even a phone book).










Cover Thoughts: I personally adore the cover. It’s not overly done or ugly. It’s simple and I just love it. I want the cover on a shirt and shoes like I see all over the internet.
 
 
I’m going to own these.

The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

The Truth About You & Me by Amanda Grace

4 stars

Madelyn is the smart girl that hasn’t really ever had any friends and now she finds herself attending college at sixteen through a school program. She meets Bennett on her first day. He’s perfect- cute, funny, and kind. He gets Madelyn and she can talk to him about anything and finally feel like her true self. She’s falling in love, but there’s a problem. Bennett is her college professor and he doesn’t know that she’s still technically in high school. Madelyn recounts her love for Bennett in a letter as an apology and a way to tell her tell the truth about what really happened. I wasn’t sure about starting this book. I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews for it, but I like teacher-relationship stories and I was curious if this book would be terrible or good. I actually really liked it. It’s not an amazing book, but I really enjoyed it. It’s quick to read and whenever I would pick it up, I would fly threw the words and I was entranced in Maddie’s “love” for Bennett. I was actually surprised with some of the content of this book. It doesn’t bother me at all, but I wasn’t expecting Grace to be more descriptive than most, even if it was vague, when it came to sex. The letter reminded me kind of Stolen: A Letter to My Captor because I knew that the letter would probably end up just as tragic, but the writing styles were completely different.


The main female character is Maddie. I really like Maddie. There’s just something about her that is so relatable. I think she’s easily one of those girls that you can connect to at some point or another. She feels pressured to be great because it’s expected of her from her family, she is the perfect daughter, but she just wants to be free. Who hasn’t wanted to ever be free from their duties or even life? I know I have and maybe I find it easier to relate to Maddie because I’m a teenager, but I was able to relate to her nonetheless. She has her faults, but she always felt incredibly human to me.


”I had been nervous before that moment, and when our eyes met, the butterflies turned to seagulls.”
 
This kind of reminds me of Maddie, but she's still young so I think it clouded her judgment, but I really like it.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8.5

The main male character is Bennett. I’m not in love with Bennett and I don’t think that he is a particularly remarkable character, but I won’t lie, there were times when I really did like him. I like Maddie became obsessed with the idea of them being together. It seemed perfect like they were meant to be together, like it just had to last forever. I knew that it wouldn’t, but I had wanted him to love her. What really pissed me off was when he found out her real age how everything he felt just seemed to go away. It made absolutely no sense that he could just completely ex her out of his life and act so cold once he found out. It made me think that he never really actually loved her.

”You have this look, Bennett, this very special glowing sort of look when you’re trying to rein in your smile but aren’t quite able. Your eyes sparkle and you look just plain beautiful.”

Swoon Worthy Scale: 7.5

The Villain- Contemporaries never really have villains, except for the main character causing some kind of problem for themselves or an internal conflict.
 

Villain Scale: Nonexistent

Maddie’s brother would play a part of the story at some point and I really liked him. Maddie’s family isn’t very present in her life. They are there, but I just found them to be overbearing presences in her life.

Character Scale: 7

I would recommend this book, but it is definitely an unhappy ending. I really enjoyed it and I’m surprised with how the story left off. Like most books with this subject, you can predict how it will end, but I wasn’t expecting Maddie to make that final decision of letting go.

“Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.”

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. I’m not a huge fan of couples kissing on covers, but I really like this one.

Thank you, Netgalley and Flux for provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Cover Wars #5

Welcome to my fifth edition of Cover Wars!

I think I've seen a few other blogs do similar things like this at some point or another, but since I'm too lazy to post a review, here's what I'll post when I have nothing else! But a review will probably becoming on the blog later tonight or tomorrow.:)

A Basic Overview:

What is Covers Wars? Well, for my version of Cover Wars I have two sections. One section is the original cover versus the new cover or paperback vs. hardcover. Then the second section is English/American cover vs. a foreign cover that I've found and have an opinion. I'll showcase each cover and give an opinion. Why I really want to do this is to see people's different opinions on covers. So, please leave your reactions in the comments! That sounds really formal! Just tell me if you like the cover or not or any thoughts at all! I'll get my sister to make a banner for me later on to use it as a header! (She's the creative/ techy one.)

Let's begin with the results of last week!:)
The Covers That Won:
 Since I didn't really have enough voters last week, I'll be featuring the two pairs of covers that no one voted on, but these are the two that one.

This is the Swedish cover of Starcrossed and the Dutch version of Between Shades of Gray. They are very beautiful and I think they are rightful winners to the thrown. If you didn't realize that these were the last two covers for each of these books until future covers I come across, so they are the queens.

The Original VS. THE NEW:
 
Original VS. Movie Edition 1
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
My Thoughts:
No one gave feedback on this set and honestly I don't blame anyone, but now that I think about it these covers are just so generic. I still think the original is better though.

Flower Cover (Winner from Two Weeks Ago) VS. Girl Cover:
 
Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Thoughts :
Same as last week because copy and paste is easier than writing out new thoughts because I'm too tired. I love, love the flower cover. It's just so simple and pretty. I know, we have another girl cover for this book, but I actually like this one more the more that I look at it. There's just something about the look in the model's eyes that screams "Tessa" to me. I remember that when I read the book I couldn't look at the cover because it felt like I was looking into Tessa's soul. This is a tie for me and I can't decide which on I love more because the model one is starting to be more impacting the more I stare.


The English VS. Foreign Edition:  

The English VS. UK Edition
Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
This is one of the best angel books I've read and I can't wait for the final book in the Angel trilogy to be released. If you didn't know Angel Burn was originally released under the title in the U.K. as Angel before it was released in America.
Thoughts:
I love the cover for Angel Burn. I think it's absolutely stunning and it's just gorgeous. The little design around the title is also beautiful and fun to trace in person. (Yes, I trace my book covers when looking at them.) I don't really like the U.K. cover. The girl looks demonic and she gives a creepy feeling.

Past US Winner VS. UK/NZ Edition:

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
This book popped up a few wars ago and the paperback edition trumped the hardcover and it's now back to ago against the UK/NZ edition.
Thoughts:
I stand by my love for the paperback edition and chances are that my love will remain for it. Is it just me or does the girl on the foreign edition look like one of the girls from Gossip Girl?

Just me?

What are your favorites? Is it both hardcovers or paperbacks? Or do you like foreign editions more than American? Leave your thoughts in the comments!Let the wars begin and may the covers ever be in your favor!