Book Review : Shut Out

Book: Shut Out
Author: Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy
Date Published: September 5, 2011
Pages: 273
Source: ARC
Date Read: June 7, 2011

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I have yet to write a review on my blog for Kody’s first book- The D.U.F.F.- but just as a side note… I ADORE that book and its one of my favorites. The type of book I make time to re-read on top of my busy school/work/ reviewing schedule. And while in the end I did enjoy Shut Out, The D.U.F.F. was so much more than a story to me.

Written in the same Kody style, Shut Out is funny and real. It deals with real issues about girls, sex, self-image, and peer pressure and the pressures society places on both boys and girls. It deals mostly with the girls, but still I liked that all these issues were brought up so openly. The girls learned that no matter what they felt, they shouldn’t be ashamed of it as long as they were true to themselves.

I really liked that Lissa’s boyfriend had some redeeming qualities, because sometimes I feel like what type of girls are they if they are with a guy that is such a blatant asshole. And I loved loved loved Cash Sterling, though I wish he was a little more developed.

My Review in a Tweet: I wish this book was around when I was a teenager, so I could have just accepted my beliefs and myself. Like Kody's other work, this is an amazing open discussion about sex and image. Don't shut this book out!

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

"Being ashamed  of what you want or how you feel is pointless, and letting anyone else make you feel ashamed is a waste."

Similar Titles:

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• GReads

{Audio}Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

By: Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date:  October 18, 2007
Pages: 288 (6hr 25mins)
Source: bought

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Thirteen Reasons Why is an emotional story like no other book I have ever read heard. I first read it before I was a blogger and recently acquired an audiobook book version of it. The book on it's own merits is great, but listening to the emotion behind the words elevated it to one of my favorite books ever and definitely my favorite audiobook.

It has a powerful message as well, about how something so small and insignificant to you can impact others lives in ways you could never understand or imagine. Sometimes these book can come off sounding preachy, but not once did I get that vibe from this book. The emotions were genuine.

This book is about many things: growing up, being mature, thinking of others, missed opportunities and so much more. I HIGHLY recommend and once you start you are going to want to stay reading, or in my case sitting in your car listening, until you are done.

My Review in a Tweet: 

I don't need to tell you 13 Reasons Why I love this book, but I could. One of my favorite books ever!!

Ratings: 

Plot Development: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Characters: 10/10 
Pace: 10/10
Uniqueness: 9/10
Narration: 10/10

Other Reviews:

• Baffled Books
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**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!

Book Review: Love Story

By: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books
Release Date:  July 19, 2011
Pages: 256
Source: GalleyGrab

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I have said this before and I will say it again, I love Jennifer Echols! She is one of my favorite contemporary authors and after this book I am officially labeling her my favorite YA Steam Queen. She knows how to write those romance scenes. In fact, her book Going Too Far is my favorite YA contemp romance stand-alone book. Yes, it needs that many labels because I have many favorites in different categories. So that being said, Love Story was not my favorite of her works. Yes it was really good, but when you have AMAZING books to live up to its hard not to compare.

Many people who are reading JE for the first time, found this book to be amazing, spectacular, five stars. Me, well I had some issues. I didn't really connect to the characters the way I wanted to. I thought it was a little unfocused and I didn't understand their motives at first. Usually in a book written in first person you know what they are thinking, and if they are lying to themselves, but these characters really seemed to hate each other and I never picked up on what made them like each other, only that they did. This probably doesn't make sense, but I have no other way to describe what it was exactly that irked me about the book.

Still the romance scenes where awesome. I liked the format of the book with the stories written by the character egging the plot forward. And despite my qualms with the characters, I loved the ending. I will definitely continue to read JE and I did enjoy this book, I just enjoyed her others sooooooo much more!

Ratings:

Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Other Reviews:

• The Perpetual Page-Turner
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Buy the book here!
**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!

Series Review: Vampire Academy Books 1-3

Book 1 Synopsis:
St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's the very place where they're most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires make Lissa one of them forever.

I have no idea what I was thinking waiting so long to read this series!!!!!!!!!! Seriously! I can't even give you a comprehensive review of it because I just loved it so much I didn't even take one single note down. Books 1-3 were amazing. I read VA and the second book Frostbite between two days and I only stopped because I was like I have reviews to work on. Then I started reading book 3 when I saw that Lynn from Bring the Epic was reading the series and I have to say that Shadow Kiss if my favorite of the first three! I thought the other two where made of awesome, but Shadow Kiss is made of heaven.

This is definitely a fan girl geek out review and I wish I could give you specific of what I did like, but let's just say this book has everything you could like in a book: FIERCE KICK ASS GIRL LEAD, HOT UNATTAINABLE GUYS, COOL BEST FRIENDS, FRIENDS THAT BECOME VILLAINS AND VILLAINS THAT BECOME FRIENDS.

Also, this review by Liz pretty much says everything I was thinking while reading the book!

PS: I have the rest of the series waiting to be read, and I will try to take notes this time hehe

Book Review: Dream Smashers

By: Angela Carlie

Publisher: Darkside Publishing
Release Date:  March 25, 2011
Source: TeenBookScene Tour

Sixteen-year-old Autumn has spent her entire life worrying about others. Her ailing grandma, meth-addicted mom, and a best friend who is always in trouble. She's spent the last few years attempting to worry less, to be carefree, without success.

Enter Evan, whose radiant attitude is an Autumn magnet. With Evan at her side, Autumn's able to let some of her worries go as they trudge through life's difficulties and fall for each other in the process.

A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them, Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it's about letting go.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Dream Smashers is a realistic, heart wrenching story about a girl named Autumn Spring Winters and the people in her life that "kill" her dreams. More like they make her feel her dreams aren't possible. She lives with her grandmother, has a homeless/alcoholic/druggie mother and her best friend is currently not make great life choices. I thought the story was powerful and emotional. Angela is a great writer, but for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters.

The format of the book is that it changes character POV every so often, which is something I like because I love being inside the heads of these very real and deep characters. At times I was really sucked in to the story and other times I was just reading. My biggest issue though, was with Evan. I totally believe that there are guys out there like him. His faith doesn't make him unbelievable, but it does make him hard to relate to. He's the type to say something like leave it in God's hand and really mean it, as much as I have faith (not that I am religious) I found him somewhat corny. He did grow on me though, and I think this book is worth taking a look at.

Ratings: 

Plot Development: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Characters: 6/10 
Pace: 7/10
Uniqueness: 8/10
Ease of Reading: 9/10

Buy the book here!
**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!

Book Review: Glow

By: Amy Kathleen Ryan

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date:  September 27, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: ARC 
Thank you St. Martin's!

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

Glow is the most riveting series debut since The Hunger Games, and promises to thrill and challenge readers of all ages.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Glow left me outside in and inside out. They aren't kidding in the book description when they compare the book to Hunger Games. I am a big YA reader, but I will not lie, most of the time the thing that draws me to the books is the romance. Rhe romance here is a side story, like in the Hunger Games, and the real story is survival. And like the Hunger Games, I REALLY enjoyed this book.

In the beginning we meet the two main characters, from whose view the story is told, Kieran and Waverly. They are cute couple, but are obsessed with labeling who the "best" person to be in a relationship with is. At first this threw me off, but then I realized life in space with such few peers must be difficult, and its the survival instinct to find and "mate" with "the best." You can tell there are some strong feelings between these two, but before we see too much of them together, their ship is attacked and they are separated. Both must do all they can to survive.

I didn't read the summary before starting the book and I was surprised by how deep this book is. You don't know who is good or evil, who to trust and who to love, and when you finally think the right person is the "right" person, you are thrown for a loop once again. Labels mean nothing. Good intentions don't lead to good actions, and vice-versa.

I read this book fairly quickly and I enjoyed every second of it. Excited to see what Amy will bring with the next book.

My Review in a Tweet: 

A tale about survival, deceit, and humanity, told from deep space. It's an adventure comparable to Across the Universe and Hunger Games. I couldn't help but write a GLOWing review of how much I liked it!

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:

Other Reviews:

• WhatchYAreading
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Can't find many reviews on this book, maybe more closer to release date...

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**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!

Series Review: Iron Fey 1, 2, & 3

 Iron King, Iron Daughter, & Iron Queen

Click here for synopsis!

I am not going to lie; it took me a long time to get into the series as whole. It wasn’t until the second half of Iron Daughter (Book 2), that I felt really invested in the lives of the characters. Iron King starts off quickly, Meghan’s life will never be the same. She is this normal forgettable teenage girl, and all of a sudden she is in the middle of this new Fey world. And these faeries are unlike anything you have ever seen. As said many times in the book, this may be a Faery Tale, but it’s not a Fairytale. I was creeped out by a huge chunk of the beginning of this book, and while the plot felt like it moved quickly, It felt slow to me and I got bored in parts. What drew me back in was Ash and Puck. Puck is so charming and funny, and Ash with his frosty aloofness, and their banter together! I couldn’t get enough. I wanted Meghan to be more assertive, to not just sit around and let others fight her battle, but as the stories progress I understand why she must be like this. Overall, I liked Iron King, but not as much as Iron Daughter and Iron Queen.

The series as whole is incredibly unique and detailed with so many fantastical creatures. It really is a different world, scary and new, but one that you want to learn more about.

Click here for synopsis!

I had some similar issues with Iron Daughter that I had with Iron Queen, but not as much. I can actually pinpoint where I got bored with it chs. 10-15, but after that I couldn’t put it down. By this point I am realizing that the boys make the story for me. Ash and Puck, I couldn’t get enough. Also, Grim, I loved this dry furball that always showed up when you needed him. Meghan gets a little better; you can tell she is growing with each and every story. The second half of this book is where I am finally connecting with the characters and really involved with the story that I don’t feel as it is going slow anymore. And the ending, OH the ending…. WOW!

Click here for synopsis!

Iron Queen is my favorite of the three books. This is one of the only series that each book is progressively better. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with Ash again and again, and Puck broke my heart again and again. I really love them both in different ways, but to me there is no question as to who Meghan belongs with. There was a lot more action in the book, but there was still a lot of love too. And Meghan finally learns to kick some ass. I realized how much she has grown in the books. I read all these back to back pretty much, so it doesn’t feel like so much time has passed between them, but a lot has and you can tell.

I am sooooo glad there is a fourth book and it’s in Ash POV because I don’t think I would have been able to wait after reading the ending of Iron Queen. So be on the lookout for my Iron Knight review, COMING SOON!

Book Review : Starcrossed

By: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Released: May 31, 2011
Pages: 496
Source: NetGalley

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Based on Greek mythology -which can I just say feels like the new "in" thing now- this is a Romeo and Juliette esque type story really captured my attention. I started it one morning and didn't put it down till I was done with it later that night. I felt a strong connection to awkward, yet beautiful Helen and her best friend. And I was really intrigued by Helen's dreams and the family feud. I think of all the Greek mythology stories, this one is the most original (or at least I am more unaware about The furies and their mythology).

 Some compare this book to Twilight. Like Twilight, there is a strong family connection and I can definitely see where people are getting the comparisons. But for some reason the similarities didn't bother me. Unlike in Die for Me, I really enjoyed this story, despite its Twilight comparisons. I loved the family and the lore. This book to me was the total package.

I enjoyed how the romance built as well. It was insta-hate, before it turned to love, which was refreshing. Though I promised myself I would no longer let insta-love affect a book's opinion (for more of that see here question 4), it still was a nice change from the usual

My Review in a Tweet: 

a Greek mythology like no other, you will devour this tale of Star-Crossed lovers! I look forward to learning more of the lore.

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5


Similar Titles:
Abandon - based on Greek mythology
Falling Under - a darker story based on Greek mythology
Goddess Test - based on Greek mythology
Half-Blood - based on Greek mythology
Twilight - sorry I can't help but compare

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Book Review: Shatter Me

By: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date:  November 15, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: ARC -  Thanks HarperTeen!

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.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I am in awe of this book. I was told and told again how great and amazing it was, but I did not expect how beautiful the writing would be or how much I would fall in love with this story! For a story about a girl who can't be touched it's unexpectedly hot .... and so beautiful and full if emotion it's hard not to burst from it.

Let me start with the writing. Lyrical, is a great word to describe it. The imagery Tahereh created with her words, I have never read a blush of the cheeks describe more beautifully than in this book, and the many ways she comes up with to describe such a normal every day thing.  I feel like I could burst from the beauty of her words alone. And the style was amazing, using strikethroughs to emphasize some thoughts Juliette was having.

The plot was fantastic brilliant EXCEPTIONAL. This x-men meets dystopian novel was fast paced, yet still created a complete picture of the dying world that Juliette and Adam live in. I can't wait to learn more about the world and how it came to be in the next book.

And can I say WOW to all the sexy time scenes. First off the shower scenes are some of the sweetest, most romantic and steamy (literally) scenes I have ever read! Adam is definitely a 10 out of 10 in the swoon worthy department. Loyal, passionate, caring, sweet... how could you not fall for him?!?!

I highly recommend this book to dystopian lovers and even those that don't, I think you will enjoy it ;)

My Review in a Tweet:  

This X-men meets dystopian novel has become one of my favorite books. With such open, honest, and heart-achingly beautiful writing and an amazing storyline, you will fall in love with Shatter Me! Another amazing novel of 2011.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

I want to put this fist attached to my wrist right through the window.

Just to feel something.
Just to feel human.

Similar Titles:
Some other dystopians...

Other Reviews:

• I Eat Words
• Reading Teen
• Hooked to Books
• Books with Bite 

I tried to find a review of someone who didn't like it, to get two perspectives, but so far there aren't any!

Buy the book here!
**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!